First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. named Jeff L. Hubbard to serve as New England Regional President, leading the company's New Haven-based team of bankers across Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Hubbard joins First Niagara from TD Bank, N.A., where he served for six years, most recently as Regional Vice President, Commercial Banking responsible for managing the daily business activities for the bank in the Hartford region of Connecticut, as well as expanded responsibility for leading the bank's commercial, middle-market and small-business lending activities statewide.

"I'm excited by the opportunity to help make a real difference for consumers and businesses in this market," Hubbard said.  "I look forward to working with my team to strengthen existing customer relationships, serve new customers and ensure the delivery of best-in-class service at every level. In addition to serving customers and growing our business, I am proud to join First Niagara's efforts to give back to the communities it serves across Connecticut and Massachusetts."

As New England Regional President, Hubbard will have responsibility for managing and directing the overall market-based Commercial and Industrial lending activities in Connecticut and Massachusetts. In addition to his New England leadership role, Hubbard will oversee a significant piece of First Niagara's commercial banking business, including: Specialty Lending (Commercial Real Estate, Healthcare and Government) Capital Markets and Financial Services (Insurance, Wealth Management and Private Banking

"Having Jeff join First Niagara in this leadership role is great news for the company, our customers and the community," Managing Director of Commercial Middle Market Banking, Peter Cosgrove said.  "His experience in the market, deep knowledge of commercial banking and tremendous leadership style will be an asset to First Niagara. We are excited to have him on board."

Prior to TD Bank, Hubbard served as Senior Risk Officer for Bank of America with responsibility for evaluating credit approvals in collaboration with market objectives. From 2002 to 2009, he served as Senior Vice President and Manager for Webster Bank, with responsibilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. In addition to leading a team of more than a dozen bankers, during his seven-year tenure he oversaw the launch of four major initiatives for the bank. From 1993 to 2002, Hubbard was based in New Haven, CT serving in senior management positions with Fleet Bank and Merrill Lynch.

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with approximately 390 branches, $39 billion in assets, $28 billion in deposits, and approximately 5,300 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.