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TowneBank recently hired Ernest Piccioli as senior executive vice president and chief risk officer. 

Piccioli is based at the TowneBank headquarters in Suffolk. His appointment comes after a national search for a candidate with an extensive background in risk management and modeling who would also be a good fit for the focused culture of caring at the company.

With more than 30 years of risk management experience at one of the country’s largest commercial banks, Piccioli joins the TowneBank senior leadership team as a member of the corporate management group. As chief risk officer, Piccioli is responsible for the effective governance of risk programs for the company and has oversight of the risk management, vendor management, credit review and appraisal services.

Ernest earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and economics from North Carolina State University and his master’s degree from Wake Forest University. He is a member of the Risk Management Association’s Lending and Credit Risk Professionals group and the Consumer Bankers Association Risk Committee.

TowneBank Chief Executive Officer Billy Foster explained the importance of Piccioli’s role. 

“Having Ernest aboard as chief risk officer provides added assurance for the sustained safety and soundness of our company,” Foster said. “His proven success in an enterprise risk management leadership role for a large financial institution made it clear that he was the right candidate.”

For his part, Piccioli welcomed the opportunity to relocate to Hampton Roads and join a bank where relationships and the community still matter.

“The TowneBank team has been so welcoming,” he said. “I look forward to leading the risk management efforts of this dynamic and growing organization that has always valued risk mitigation as a key factor in its success.”