Webster Five's chief financial officer and newly designated chief operating officer, Brian Westerlind. Photo courtesy of Webster Five

Webster Five is appointing a new chief operating officer and a chief risk officer as the bank expands its senior leadership role to support its growing demand and operations.

Webster Five’s Chief Financial Officer Brian Westerlind was also named the new Chief Operating Officer of the bank. He was the bank’s CFO for over 14 years. As COO, his added responsibilities will include guiding retail banking, operations and marketing, on top of his CFO role of managing the finance, retail lending and facilities departments. Before Webster Five, Westerlind was a senior manager at Wolf & Co., P.C.

“These expanded responsibilities under the new COO role will work to better serve and shape our retail and operational strategies,” Westerlind said in a statement. “As the bank continues to strive for operational excellence in all areas, I’m excited to work with our departments to lead Webster Five into the future.”

Jennifer Nickerson is promoted as the bank’s Chief Risk Officer. Nickerson was Webster Five’s director for risk, compliance, and audit for more than two years. She will handle the bank’s risk management, meet regulatory requirements for the bank, and consolidate all bank risk functions under one leader.

“Formally bringing ‘risk’ into our senior leadership further demonstrates the bank’s commitment to proactive risk management and strategic decision making,” Nickerson said in a statement. “With our talented teams at Webster Five, I look forward to navigating complexities and charting a course for sustainable growth.”

Webster Five believes that the updated leadership structure will give way to sustainable development for both the bank and for its community.

“I am excited about these organizational changes, which directly align with Webster Five’s plans for growth,” Don Doyle, president and CEO of Webster Five, said in a statement. “This new leadership structure will optimize our overall team effectiveness while sustaining the agility and adaptability needed to lead Webster Five forward.”