Jim Lynch, chairman and CEO of Sovereign Bank’s Mid-Atlantic Division, assumes expanded responsibilities in January. Sovereign Bank is making changes in leadership to focus more attention on local decision-making and service.
Lynch began his banking career with Continental Bank, where he worked his way to president. From 1996 to 1998, he was chairman, president and CEO of Prime Bank, and when Prime Bank merged with FleetBoston Financial, he became chairman, president and CEO of Fleet Bank – Pennsylvania. Lynch joined Sovereign Bank as CEO of the Mid-Atlantic Division in 2002.
He graduated from LaSalle University with a degree in marketing, and he now serves at the university as chairman of the board. In 2001, Lynch was named Banker of the Year by the Philadelphia chapter of the Risk Management Association.
Lynch oversees corporate banking operations in the Mid-Atlantic region. His expanded responsibilities will include directing all retail banking operations in the Mid-Atlantic Division, in addition to managing five newly appointed regional presidents and CEOs.
STONEPATH GROUP
Jason Totah is the new CEO for Stonepath Group Inc. Totah replaces Dennis Pelino, who will remain as chairman of the board.
Totah has broad experience in domestic and international logistics. Prior to working for Stonepath, he served in international logistics for Amoco Petroleum. Before Amoco, he worked for Global Transportation Services, acquired by Stonepath in 2002, where he held a broad range of senior sales and operations positions.
Totah will lead Stonepath Group Inc. as it combines the many units of Stonepath, acquired under Pelino, into a unified company with a single executive management team.
Also, Bob Arovas, former president and CEO of GeoLogistics, was named president of Stonepath Group Inc. Arovas has more than 20 years of experience with the global logistics industry, serving as CFO of BAX Global and of Fritz Cos., in addition to his experience with GeoLogistics. Arovas will play an integral role in integrating the many pieces of Stonepath Group Inc. into a single entity.
UNISYS CORP.
Joseph W. McGrath, president and chief operating officer of Unisys Corp.,will become the company’s president and CEO Jan. 1. Current CEO Lawrence A. Weinbach will remain chairman of the board until January 2006.
McGrath joined Unisys Corp. in 1999 as senior vice president of major account sales and chief marketing officer, and moved on to become the president of the Enterprise Transformation Services unit and a corporate executive vice president.
PHILADELPHIA CITY PAPER
Philadelphia City Paper named Duane Swierczynski editor in chief.
Swierczynski is a former editor of Men’s Health, Details and Philadelphia magazines. He is the author of six nonfiction books, including “The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion,” and recently signed a two-book contract with St. Martin’s Press to publish mystery novels.
Swierczynski grew up in Philadelphia, and was a student at LaSalle University. He later returned to LaSalle as a professor of journalism and adviser of the student newspaper.
SOVEREIGN BANK
Sovereign Bank named Terry D’Alessandro market CEO of its Philadelphia, Chester and Delaware county markets in Philadelphia and South Jersey. Her new responsibilities include managing local team members, expanding business and providing community leadership. She reports to Jim Lynch.
D’Alessandro began working with Sovereign Bank in 1997. She has held multiple positions within the company, including regional manager and division president for Pennsylvania. She has an undergraduate degree in marketing communications from Cabrini College in Randor.
She serves as vice chair of the United Way of Southern Pennsylvania and as a board member for Main Line Chamber of Commerce, Forum of Executive Women, Surrey Services for Seniors and Pyramid Club.
COMMERCE BANCORP INC
Commerce Bancorp Inc. hired Michael D. Shepard as a senior vice president. Shepard is a banking regulatory expert with more than a decade of experience in banking compliance and litigation matters. He heads Commerce Bank’s newly created Bank Secrecy Act unit.
Shepard was previously a partner with Blank Rome LLP, a Philadelphia business law firm, where he specialized in banking compliance, banking litigation, and internal corporate investigations. He has also served as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he focused on prosecuting white-collar crimes. He also acted as a liaison to the Los Angeles-Nevada Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
