Berkshire Bank’s parent company has appointed former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito to its board of directors.

Polito was elected to the boards of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. and Berkshire Bank as an independent director, the bank said in a statement yesterday. Polito spent eight years as Massachusetts’ lieutenant governor alongside former Gov. Charlie Baker and completed her second term in office last month.

“We are pleased to welcome Karyn to our Board of Directors,” Board Chair David M. Brunelle said in the statement. “Karyn is a champion for our communities. She brings a diverse set of skills and experiences as an owner of a commercial real estate development company and as the former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts that will complement and strengthen the composition of our Board.”

In addition to her former role as lieutenant governor, Polito is a principal of Polito Development Corp.

“Berkshire will benefit from Karyn’s decades of experience working at the intersection of business and government,” Berkshire Bank CEO Nitin Mhatre said in the statement. “She will help us enhance our customer focus, community impact and advance our vision of becoming a high-performing, leading socially responsible community bank.”

Polito joined the board on Feb. 2 and was appointed to the board’s risk management, capital and compliance, and corporate responsibility and culture committees.

“I’ve watched Berkshire evolve and grow into a well-respected, socially responsible, community-orientated institution at the forefront of meeting the financial needs of its customers and communities,” Polito said. “I look forward to working alongside the Board and leadership team to leverage my network, relationships, and experience to take Berkshire to even greater heights.”