By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Robert F. Lowe to Retire from NewBridge Bancorp, Newbridge Bank Boards of Directors
Retirement ends 47-year career in banking
GREENSBORO, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– NewBridge Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBBC) today announced that Robert F. Lowe, a long-time executive with the Company, will retire from the Board of Directors of both NewBridge Bancorp and NewBridge Bank, at the Company’s Annual Shareholder Meeting on May 15, 2013.
Robert F. Lowe
Lowe was instrumental in the formation of NewBridge Bank in 2007, leading the merger of LSBTheBank (Lexington State Bank), of which he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and FNB Southeast to form the new organization. Lowe retired as CEO of NewBridge Bancorp in 2008, continuing to serve as Chairman of both NewBridge Bancorp and NewBridge Bank until 2009. Since that time he has remained an active member of both Boards.
“I am very appreciative of the opportunity to have been a part of Lexington State Bank and NewBridge Bank and helping to build what I believe is a leading community bank in North Carolina,” said Lowe. “In addition, it has been a privilege to serve our industry through both the North Carolina Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association. As NewBridge Bank moves forward, thanks to everyone for your support through the years and best wishes for your continued success.”
Lowe’s retirement marks the end of a career that has crossed six decades and is a result of NewBridge Bancorp bylaws’ retirement age of 70. With his retirement, NewBridge Bancorp and NewBridge Bank will now have 15 active board members.
“Bob Lowe is a pillar of community banking and has been an immeasurable asset to NewBridge Bank, the industry, and to me, personally,” said Michael S. Albert, chairman of the Board of Directors for both the Company and the Bank. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Bob for almost 30 years, and we’ve collaborated on many projects, including the merger between LSBTheBank and FNB Southeast. His leadership at LSBTheBank and throughout the merger, as well as during the shaping of NewBridge Bank and the economic downturn, has been invaluable.”
Lowe grew up in Chadbourn, NC, and received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also later completed the Young Executive’s Institute at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business.