Kaplan Partners Places President and CEO at Farmers & Merchants Bank
June 13, 2022 – Kaplan Partners, which specializes in conducting searches for C-level executives primarily in the financial services, corporate financial, private investor, and technology sectors, recently assisted in the placement of Gary Harris as the new president and CEO of Farmers and Merchants Bancshares in Hampstead, MD. He will replace James R. Bosley, who announced in January that he would be retiring at the end of 2022. The search spanned the East Coast. Mr. Harris will be only the fifth president in the 102-year history of the bank. “After a thorough search, the board is very confident in its selection of Gary Harris as our next president,” said Bruce Schindler, chairman of the organization’s boards of directors.
Mr. Harris’s banking career began in 1990. He joined the bank in 2008 as vice president of commercial banking. He was promoted to SVP of commercial banking in 2016. In 2021 he was promoted to executive vice president and chief lending officer. During his 14-year career with the bank Mr. Harris has been one of its top producers each year. He currently serves on the executive committee, strategic growth committee, asset-liability committee, and the officer’s loan committee.
Mr. Harris will become president of the company and the bank effective July 1. Mr. Bosley will remain the CEO until he retires on Dec. 31. On Jan. 1, 2023, Mr. Harris will become both president and CEO of the company and the bank.
C-Suite Banking Searches
Based in Philadelphia, Kaplan Partners specializes in conducting searches for C-level executives primarily in the financial services, corporate financial, private investor, and technology sectors. The firm has completed numerous assignments for financial institution CEOs. In recent years, it has recruited top leaders for financial institutions, including placing the president and chief executive officer of 1st Colonial Bancorp and its subsidiary, 1st Colonial Community Bank, in Collingswood, NJ; chief financial officer for Severn Bancorp Inc. and its subsidiary, Severn Bank, in Annapolis, MD; and CEO and president of United Bankers’ Bank (UBB) and its holding company, United Bankers’ Bancorporation Inc., in Bloomington, MN.
Related: Kaplan Partners Recruits CHRO for Provident Bank
Alan Kaplan launched Kaplan Partners in 1994 after beginning his corporate banking career with First Pennsylvania Bank and Meritor/PSFS. Since then he has built Kaplan Partners into a nationally recognized boutique executive search and talent advisory firm. Kaplan Partners has been named five times to the Philadelphia 100 as one of the region’s fastest-growing private companies and is a member of the Philadelphia 100 Hall of Fame.
Recent Search
Kaplan Partners recently recruited James Olevson as the new president of the National Capital Bank of Washington. “We are thrilled to have Jimmy join NCB’s executive management team,” said Richard Anderson, CEO. “His business banking experience, strong leadership skills, client-centric approach and commitment to community banking and engagement represent a perfect fit with our core principle that ‘customers come first’ and our growth strategy.”
With over 25 years of community banking experience, Mr. Olevson served as chief lending officer at MainStreet Bank and held senior lending positions at Middleburg Bank and BB&T Bank.
The National Capital Bank of Washington, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Capital Bancorp, Inc., was founded in 1889 and is Washington’s Oldest Bank.
Related: Kaplan Partners Recruits CHRO for Northwest Bank
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
