Park National Corporation leader Daniel DeLawder announces retirement after 50 years of service

NEWARK, Ohio, April 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dan DeLawder, an icon of community banking leadership in Ohio, announced today to Park National Corporation (Park) board members and shareholders his intention to retire on June 30, 2021. He will retire from his role on Park’s executive leadership teams, and continue to serve on Park’s board of directors in his role as director and chairman of the executive and trust committees. In his 50 years with Park National, the organization has grown from $91 million in assets and seven offices in one county to $9.9 billion in assets and 97 offices in four states.

“One or two lines in a quote are inadequate to the task of honoring Dan DeLawder’s 50 years of service to this bank, its associates and its communities. Dan brings energy, enthusiasm, intelligence and compassion to every task and situation. We, and countless others, have been enriched and inspired by Dan’s leadership and empathy,” said Park Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Trautman. “He has been a colleague and friend to me for nearly 38 years. While I will miss his daily wisdom, he has earned the chance to write his next chapter and spend more time with Diane and their family.”

DeLawder’s retirement follows Park’s long-standing tradition of carefully planned, incremental leadership transition. In 2014, he passed the chief executive officer role to then-President David Trautman; and five years later he stepped down from chairman as Matt Miller was appointed president and Trautman became both chairman and CEO. DeLawder’s predecessors at Park, William McConnell, John Alford and Everett Reese, followed the same pattern of succession that has been a hallmark of the organization’s consistency and culture.

“I never dreamed when I joined Park National Bank that I would enjoy a 50-year career with the same organization,” DeLawder said. “It has been a blessing to work at Park National Bank, to follow in the footsteps of Bill McConnell, John Alford, and Everett Reese, and to work with driven, motivated colleagues who, like me, believe there is no place like Park. We are so fortunate to have leadership in place that would be the envy of any successful organization. David and Matt are simply the best, and the right people at the right time to lead us forward.”