Essex Bank announced that Thomas Casey, a seasoned finance professional with four decades of experience, has been promoted to Chief Lending Officer. In another noteworthy personnel change, the Bank’s loan team added Vice President and Senior Credit Officer Denise Sokolowski.

Casey’s most recent role was President and CEO of Nations Equipment Finance. Prior to that role, Tom maintained numerous leadership positions including Vice President at DLL Group, Global Credit Risk Manager at Debis Financial Services, a division of Daimler Chrysler Capital Services and Controller at Anastasio & Sons Trucking Company.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Quinnipiac University. Recently, he was an active board member of the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation (AEDF), which seeks to address the need for skilled professionals in the equipment distribution industry through a “community-based, school-to-work” strategy.

Sokolowski has more than twenty years of banking experience in the Connecticut market, most recently holding the position of SVP/Senior Credit Risk Manager. She has expertise in oversight of commercial credit underwriting, training and mentoring credit analysts, watched asset portfolio management, developing lending policies, commercial loan structuring and loan review. She also serves as Secretary of the not-for-profit organization Shoreline Greenway Trail. “We are excited to promote Tom and welcome Denise to the team,” President and CEO Diane Arnold commented.