Bob Jones is retiring as CEO of Indiana’s Old National after more than 14 years with the company and almost 40 years in banking. He will be replaced by Chief Financial Officer Jim Ryan.
Ryan will transition to the CEO role on May 2, when Jones officially steps down. At that time, current Treasurer Brendon Falconer will succeed Ryan as CFO. A new treasurer has not yet been named. Jones, 61, will continue to serve as chair through January 2020.
“Throughout my 14 years at Old National, I have drawn energy and excitement from seeing the entire organization, and the tremendous people I have worked alongside, grow and thrive – it has been a privilege to lead the company over this period,” said Jones. “As I prepare to turn the mantle over to Jim Ryan and an outstanding team of executive leaders, I’m still fueled by that same sense of energy and excitement.”
Recently named the 2018 CFO of the Year by Indiana Business Journal, Ryan helped orchestrate Old National’s successful expansion into numerous growth markets, including Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, Mich.; Madison, Wis.; and the Twin Cities with its acquisition of KleinBank, Chask, Minn. A native of Michigan, Ryan joined Old National in 2000 as assistant treasurer and was later promoted to treasurer. In 2007, he spearheaded Old National’s acquisition of St. Joseph Capital Corp., in Michiana, Inc. In 2016, he was promoted to CFO while maintaining responsibility for corporate strategy. Before joining Old National, he held senior finance positions at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Old Kent Financial Corp. He has a degree in business administration from Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich.
Ryan is chair of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, secretary and treasurer of the Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, a board member of Deaconess Hospital, Inc. and Deaconess Health Systems, Inc., a board member of the Old National Bank Center for Closely Held Business at Butler University, and an advisory board member of the University of Evansville’s Schroeder Family School of Business.
“I am humbled and honored to join the list of incredible servant-leaders who have paved the way for Old National’s success by helping shape us into a strong, basic bank that our clients and communities know they can rely on. I am especially honored to follow Bob Jones,” Ryan said. “ Working alongside an amazing group of leaders, I look forward to doing my part to continue to build on the momentum we have created and the legacy of exceptional community banking that Bob and others before him have worked so hard to establish.”
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Jones became CEO of Old National in September 2004. Prior to that, he served for 25 years at KeyCorp in Northern Ohio. During Jones’s tenure, Old National has been recognized seven times (2012-2018) as one of the Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies, and American Banker has recognized the company twice as a “Great Place to Work.”
Jones serves on numerous boards, including Vectren, the University of Evansville, the Evansville Regional Business Committee, Inc. (current chair), SW Indiana Business Leaders Roundtable for Early Childhood Development, Riley Children’s Foundation, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, ABA’s American Bankers Council Chair, International City/County Management Association-Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC), the American Bankers Council and the Mid-Size Bank Coalition’s executive committee.
Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels presented Jones with the Sagamore of the Wabash award and the Distinguished Hoosier Award. He has also been inducted into the Evansville Regional Business Hall of Fame and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Hall of Fame.
Falconer joined Old National in 2009 as controller and has served in several leadership roles since. He has nearly 20 years of financial industry experience. Prior to joining Old National, he worked at Irwin Union Bank as the controller of the commercial banking division. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, and an MBA from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Ind.