Bruce Lee, president of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., will add CEO to his title on June 1. Lee has been president of Heartland Financial since 2015. The $10.1 billion Heartland operates 10 bank charters serving 89 communities from 117 banking locations.
“Our company has carefully planned for our succession of leadership,” said Lynn B. Fuller, chairman and current CEO of Heartland. “Bruce Lee is an extraordinarily talented banker. …[with] a proven track record of success and his experience in leading banks both large and small makes him uniquely qualified to lead the Heartland Group of bank charters and carry on Heartland’s long legacy of performance.”
Fuller will remain in an active role as operating executive chairman, overseeing M&A activity, investor relations and risk management and audit.
Lee has more than 30 years of banking experience, including 12 years at Fifth Third, a $130 million regional bank based in Cincinnati, where he was, most recently, executive vice president and chief credit officer.