Berkshire Bank Promotes Charles N. Leach, III

02:28PM / Thursday, December 03, 2009Print Story | Email Story

Charles N. Leach, III to First Vice President and Chief Investment Officer

PITTSFIELD, Mass., – Continuing its commitment to hiring exemplary individuals and promoting from within, Berkshire Bank recently appointed Charles N. Leach, III to First Vice President and Chief Investment Officer. In his new position, Leach will oversee investment strategy, portfolio management and research. The bank has committed to hiring additional portfolio managers to expand its current team of 22 staff members including six Certified Financial Planners and four trust officers.

Leach has twelve years of portfolio management experience. For the past three years he has served as Berkshire Bank’s Vice President and Senior Investment Officer, where he was responsible for investment portfolio management and counseling clients on investment planning. In his three years at Berkshire Bank with the Asset Management/Trust Group, Leach through his personal service and expertise, increased client-based investments from $500 million to approximately $700 million. Prior to joining Berkshire Bank, Leach served as a Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager for TD Banknorth.

“Chuck Leach has brought a new level of sophistication, skill and attention to our clients’ needs and objectives. He has demonstrated success in our clients’ portfolios by virtue of his performance and his exceptional investment discipline,” said Thomas W. Barney, CFP, Senior Vice President and Trust Officer for Berkshire Bank. “We expect more of the same customer-centric dedication in his new role as First Vice President and Chief Investment Officer.”

Based out of the Group’s 66 West Street, Pittsfield headquarters, Leach works with clients across the Berkshire Bank footprint and beyond. Leach earned his bachelor’s degree from Colby College and his MBA from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. Leach is currently a board member of Berkshire Children and Families. He resides in Lee, Massachusetts with his wife and two children.

Background

Berkshire Hills Bancorp is headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It has approximately $2.7 billion in assets and is the parent of Berkshire Bank - America's Most Exciting BankSM. Berkshire provides personal and business banking, insurance, wealth management, and investment services through 46 banking and insurance financial centers in western Massachusetts, northeastern New York, and southern Vermont. Berkshire Bank also offers the added benefit of providing its depositors 100 percent insurance protection, regardless of amount, based on a combination of FDIC insurance and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information, visit http://www.berkshirebank.com or call 800-773-5601.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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