COURTESY / MAINE BANKERS ASSOCIATION
Chris Pinkham
July 14, 2021
NH business and industry leader to head Maine Bankers Association
Courtesy / Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire
Jim Roche comes from the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire to join the Maine Bankers Association as its new president.
By Staff
Coming out of a year of economic turmoil that nevertheless highlighted strengths within the banking industry, the Maine Bankers Association has named a new president who brings extensive experience in executive leadership, public policy and advocacy.
The association’s executive committee announced yesterday that Jim Roche will succeed Chris Pinkham, who is retiring.
Pinkham joined Maine Bankers in 1974 and has been at the helm since 1980. His tenure has lasted through numerous economic cycles and changes that have included a surge of bank expansions, mergers and acquisitions, and a new focus on female representation on bank boards and in leadership roles.
Despite 2020’s economic turmoil, Maine’s banking industry emerged in pretty good shape with further growth expected.
“Banks continue to be the economic backbone of our communities, helping everyone endure this pandemic storm,” Pinkham told Mainebiz in January.
Building on success
“Chris has been a tremendous steward to the Maine banking community by successfully leading the association through numerous economic cycles, a merger of two associations, and most recently, a global pandemic,” Curtis Simard, chair of Maine Bankers and CEO of Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE: BHB), said in a news release.
“Maine represents one of the more robust banking markets in New England, and Chris deserves a great deal of credit for our shared success.”
Simard said Roche is “the right leader to build upon what Chris and his leadership team have accomplished.”
He added, “Jim’s charisma, energy and proven track record over many years leading BIA, and throughout his career, made him the perfect choice for our association.”
Roche joins the association from the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire, where he has been president and CEO since 2005. The association is a New Hampshire business advocate and statewide chamber of commerce.
“The Maine Bankers Association is one of the premier associations in Northern New England and I’m honored to be serving as their next president,” said Roche. “Chris has done an amazing job and I look forward to partnering with the board and leadership team to drive member value and advance MBA’s mission in the years ahead.”
In a separate news release, Roche said he was ready for “new challenges and opportunities.”
His accomplishments at the New Hampshire association, he said, included rebranding the group as “New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce,” creating successful events, and launching an affiliate membership program for small business members of local chambers of commerce. The association’s membership grew nearly 50% through 2020.
Previously, Roche served as president and CEO of Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The Maine Bankers Association represents the industry and its 9,000 employees in legislative and regulatory matters, creates educational programming, and offers insurance services for member banks. Maine’s 28 retail banks operate 454 offices in nearly every community throughout the state. The Maine banking industry has assets exceeding $36 billion.
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