Central Bancorp, the parent company of Central Co-operative Bank in Somerville, has appointed William P. Morrissey as president of the company and the bank.

In connection with his appointment as president, Morrissey has also been elected as a member of the board of directors. John D. Doherty, the former president of the company and the bank, will continue in his role as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors following Morrissey’s appointment, the company said.

Morrissey joined the bank in November 1992, and was promoted to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer of the bank in April 2005. Until his promotion, he served as the bank’s senior vice president for corporate affairs.

Morrissey is a former chairman and member of the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.