The board of directors of Pathfinder Bancorp, the bank holding company of Pathfinder Bank, named James A. “Jim” Dowd president and CEO of the company and the bank, roles that he has served in on an interim basis since April 14, 2022. The company’s board of directors will also nominate Dowd for election to serve as a member of the company’s board, pending approval by the company’s shareholders at its annual meeting on June 1.

Dowd continues to hold the title of chief operating officer of the company and the bank. He joined Pathfinder Bank in 1994 as controller and has since held multiple roles within the organization. He was promoted to CFO in 1999 and to chief operating officer in 2017. Prior to his interim role as president and CEO, Dowd most recently held the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“On behalf of the board, we are excited to elevate Jim to the role of president and CEO,” Chris R. Burritt, chairman of Pathfinder Bancorp’s board of directors, said. “The board determined that Jim is indeed the right steward of the company as we seek to enhance the growth of Pathfinder Bank. Jim has proven adept, both in his previous roles and now in his current role, at guiding our business through challenges and we believe that he will be equally adept in leading the improvements that we seek as we move forward. His demonstrated leadership, experience and broad business and community relationships, along with his extensive industry knowledge, will continue to guide us in the times ahead.

“Notably, Jim and the leadership team that he has guided have acted decisively in the face of recent economic uncertainty by remaining focused on effective expense management while concurrently making appropriate investments to support the company’s future growth. The board looks forward to partnering with Jim as we continue to work towards improving our financial performance, enhancing shareholder value and providing value to the communities that we serve.”

“I am honored that our Board has given me the opportunity to lead the company and Pathfinder Bank and advance our vision of being the local bank our community trusts,” Dowd said. “I am excited to work closely with our senior managers and their team members as we continue to enhance trust and confidence in Pathfinder Bank within our markets. As always, I am grateful for all of our employees’ hard work and dedication during these extraordinary times. While we have had our share of challenges, I believe our strong financial performance, dedicated and competent team, and healthy capital position leave us well-positioned to strengthen Pathfinder Bank in the long-term. I look forward to working with our board, who continue to provide guidance, as we grow for the benefit of central New York and all of our stakeholders.”