ADAMS, Mass — Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, announced the selection of Julie Fallon Hughes as President and CEO. 

 

Jeffrey Grandchamp, Board Chair of Adams Community Bank, stated that this selection is in anticipation of the planned retirement of current President and CEO Charles O'Brien. Grandchamp noted that this transition is part of an overall succession plan for the Bank that the Board adopted several years ago.

 

"Julie Hughes is highly qualified for this role and has deep experience in banking. She most recently served as region president at Northwest Bank in Pennsylvania, leading all commercial, mortgage, and consumer lending efforts. Prior to her work at Northwest, Hughes served as a senior executive at several regional and community banks. We look forward to her leadership of our Bank in the coming decade," Grandchamp said.

 

"We are pleased that Julie will lead our management team in directing ACB's future progress, growth, and profitability. Her depth of knowledge with all lending and banking operations will be invaluable as our industry evolves," O'Brien said. "She values remaining a mutual banking organization, providing financial wellness training for customers, having a positive culture within the Bank, and providing broad development opportunities for her staff. Her volunteer work has focused on non-profits which provide support to families and human services."

 

Julie Hughes noted she is honored and excited to take over her new role at the Bank.

 

"ACB has long been a supporter of small businesses and retail consumers in Berkshire County," she said. "I have spent my entire career with this same focus and look forward to continuing this important undertaking."

 

Grandchamp noted the Board, by its unanimous vote, was very pleased to be able to select someone with such a diverse skill set. 

 

"Julie Hughes is a native of Winchester, MA and is pleased to be returning to her Massachusetts roots," he said.

 

At the end of this transition period, O'Brien will retire after a 44-year career in the financial services industry, with the last 27 served at Adams Community Bank. He first joined the former South Adams Savings Bank in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer. 

 

"Charlie's leadership has been invaluable in the Bank's growth and success for almost three decades," Grandchamp stated.

 

He has been very active both in our community and the banking industry. This includes being the Director (and former Chair) of the Deposit Insurance Fund, a long-time Director and State chairperson for the Massachusetts Bankers Association, and serving on various American Bankers Association committees. O'Brien is also the former Director (and former Chair) of the Northern Berkshire United Way, a member of the Berkshire Business Roundtable, a board member of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the treasurer of the MCLA Capital Campaign, and the Adams Lions Club. 

 

O'Brien and his wife, Lisa, reside in Williamstown. During O'Brien's tenure at the Bank, ACB grew from three offices in 1997 with $127 million in assets and 35 employees to a 10-office community bank in 2024 with $1+ billion in assets and 135 employees. O'Brien, who has served as CEO for 22 years, was instrumental in initiating the 2012 merger of Adams Cooperative Bank and South Adams Savings Bank. The merged Bank was then renamed Adams Community Bank. He also led the acquisition of the former Lenox National Bank in 2015. O'Brien also recognized customers' needs very early on for easy-to-use online and mobile banking outlets. Under his leadership, ACB greatly enhanced the customer experience online and through their mobile banking app.