LANCASTER, PA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/09/08 --
Robert A. Rupel, president and CEO of
Lafayette Ambassador Bank, based in Easton, PA, has announced his intent to
retire by year-end 2009 after more than 10 years of service to the company.
R. Scott Smith, Jr., chairman, chief executive officer and president of
Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT), Lafayette Ambassador Bank's
parent company, today named long-time Pennsylvania banker Gerald A. Nau to
succeed Rupel. Nau is currently the president of the Great Valley Division
of Fulton Bank, which is also a subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation.
Rupel will continue to serve on the bank's board of directors after his
retirement, and Nau will become a member of that board. In the coming
months, Nau will divide his time between Berks County and the Lehigh
Valley, working with Rupel to get to know Lafayette Ambassador's customers
and employees. Nau and his family plan to relocate to the Lehigh Valley in
2009.
"Bob Rupel has been a strong leader for the Lafayette Ambassador team for
nearly a decade," said Smith. "Recently, in his role as chairman of the
Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Bob was very effective in sharing the
perspectives of our Commonwealth's banks and customers with state and
national legislators enacting banking legislation. We thank Bob for his
service to our company and for helping our voices to be heard in larger
arenas, and we will wish him well when he retires in 2009."
Smith continued, "I have worked with Gerry Nau for more than 30 years.
Gerry has considerable experience in the financial services industry and,
over the years, he has had a positive impact on many areas of our company.
Gerry is a gifted communicator and not only leads the team, but is truly a
part of the team. He has earned the admiration and respect of his
colleagues and I know he will be a natural fit as he joins the talented
team at Lafayette Ambassador Bank."
Rupel joined Lafayette Ambassador Bank in 1999. He has 38 years of banking
experience at a variety of banks in Pennsylvania, having begun his career
as a management trainee in 1970.
He is a graduate of Kent State University, and is a Certified Lender
Professional. Rupel also completed banking courses from the University of
Oklahoma/American Banking Association School of Commercial Lending and a
management course from the American Management Association.
Active with many community organizations, Rupel recently completed a term
as chairman of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Pennsylvania's largest
banking trade association. He has also served on a variety of local
boards, including the Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America,
Northampton Community College Foundation, Communities in Schools of the
Lehigh Valley, Kutztown University Foundation, Valley Youth House of the
Lehigh Valley, State Theatre Center for the Arts and the Lehigh Valley
March of Dimes.
Nau currently serves as president of Fulton Bank's Great Valley Division,
and he is based in Reading, Pennsylvania. He began his banking career in
1975 and has held a variety of positions with Fulton Bank prior to being
named head of the Great Valley Division.
Nau holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Millersville University and is a
graduate of The Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
Nau has volunteered with many community organizations. He and his wife
Debra co-chaired the United Way of Berks County's annual campaign in 2005
and he is currently chair of the organization's board of directors. He has
chaired the board of the Berks County Chamber of Commerce and was co-chair
of the Great Valley Girl Scout Capital Campaign. He is a past chair of the
Workforce Investment Board of Berks County, was a member of the St. Joseph
Regional Health Network Board of Directors and serves as treasurer of the
Berks Economic Partnership.
2008
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Contact:
Laura J. Wakeley
Phone: 717-291-2616