Holyoke-based PeoplesBank has appointed Russell J. Peotter, vice president and general manager of WGBY, to its board of directors. Peotter had previously served as a corporator for the bank.

"At WGBY, Rus has increased the amount of community programming tenfold and guided the creation of new digital services including one of the largest PBS station video-on-demand libraries in the country," said Douglas A. Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank in a statement. "His appetite for innovation matches ours, and we believe his contributions as a member of our board of directors will be very important to our continued success."

"WGBY and PeoplesBank have worked together on several important community projects…When I became involved with the bank, I learned more about its support of the environment, education, and especially its employees. PeoplesBank is an organization that not only does good for the community, it also performs well as a solid financial institution. For all of these reasons, I am honored to become a member of its board of directors," said Peotter in a statement.

Peotter holds a bachelor’s degree from Bates College. He also serves as a trustee or board member for a number of area nonprofit organizations including, Old Sturbridge Village, the American Red Cross, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and the Trustees of Reservations.