McDermott + Bull Recruits Chief Administrative Officer for Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California
January 10, 2025 – Irvine, CA-based McDermott + Bull has placed Troy Harper as EVP and chief administrative officer at Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California in Lodi, CA. Deborah Skinner recently retired after spending 24 years in this role. The search was led by McDermott + Bull president Brandon Biegenzahn, managing director Courtney Dorrel, vice president Hilary Raska, and director Rachel Loye.
“As we continue to expand our organization, it’s important that we add highly accomplished, talented, and experienced people to our executive leadership team,” said Kent A. Steinwert, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California. “Troy brings a depth and breadth of operations and IT experience to the Company that will enrich the management team, while enabling us to execute successfully on our objectives in 2025 and beyond.”
Mr. Harper brings over 30 years of operational expertise in financial services to Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California, including more than 20 years in commercial and retail banking. Previously, he was executive vice president, chief information and operations officer for HomeStreet Bank, where he led deposit, loan, and treasury management operations, IT, corporate real estate, and security. His career experience includes additional banking and operational roles at the FDIC, Pierce Commercial Bank, CGI Group, and Deloitte Consulting. Mr. Harper will work closely with Ms. Skinner until her retirement at year-end to ensure a seamless transition.
In his new position Mr. Harper will serve on the executive leadership team reporting directly to the president and CEO. He will oversee the bank’s operations and technology strategy, including deposit and loan center operations, treasury management operations and servicing, and information technology.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, trades on the OTCQX under the symbol FMCB, and is the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California, also known as F&M Bank. Founded in 1916, F&M Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank, which serves California through 33 convenient locations. F&M Bank is financially strong, with $5.4 billion in assets, and is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s safest banks by national bank rating firms.
Related: McDermott + Bull Recruits CFO for Community West Bank
McDermott + Bull provides mission-critical permanent executive placement and interim solutions for a range of domestic and global clients. The firm serves private and public companies, private equity firms and their operating companies across multiple industries, including technology, financial services, biotech and life sciences, and professional services.
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Mr. Biegenzahn holds dual roles as president of McDermott + Bull and chair of the firm’s financial services practice group. As president, he leads day-to-day operations as well as the strategic buildout of the team of executive search managing directors. As chair of the financial services practice group, Mr. Biegenzahn is a partner to an array of financial services firms, including investment banks, commercial banks, private banks, credit unions, asset managers, institutional investors and fintech companies.
McDermott + Bull Recruits Chief Credit Officer for First Northern Bank
McDermott + Bull has assisted in the recruitment of Brett Hamilton as chief credit officer of First Northern Bank in Dixon, NY. “Brett’s leadership and financial acumen should be instrumental in guiding our credit culture and supporting our strategic plan and helping us achieve our annual performance metrics,” said Jeremiah Smith, president and CEO of First Northern Bank. “His extensive experience combined with the bank’s already established sound lending practices should position Brett as a key driver of the bank’s continued growth throughout the region and surrounding communities we proudly serve.” With more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry, Mr. Hamilton brings a vast background and expertise in credit risk strategies, portfolio management, and regulatory relations. As the chief credit officer, he will oversee the quality and diversity of the credit portfolio, and have responsibility for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and optimizing risk management practices at the bank.
Ms. Dorrel partners with the principal consultants on executive-level searches. Her prior professional experience includes admissions recruitment for a nationally-recognized trade college, as well as recruiting for technology and pharmaceutical/medical device professionals at small boutique firms.
Ms. Raska is part of the firm’s financial services practice, based in Austin, TX. She supports the execution of searches, client management, and business development for the practice. Prior to McDermott + Bull, Ms. Raska worked with a national search firm for over 10 years where she opened and built a technology search practice in Austin, TX.
Ms. Loye works closely with the McDermott + Bull’s managing directors sourcing senior leadership teams for clients. Her responsibilities include candidate research and recruiting; pipeline management and candidate flow; as well as performance feedback. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Loye worked in both business development and recruiting for direct hire and consultant engineering positions at Actalent, formerly Aerotek Engineering.
Related: McDermott + Bull Recruits CIO for Bank of Marin
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
