Hanover Bancorp, the bank holding company for Hanover Community Bank, announced the appointment of Joseph Burns to the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer.

In his new role, Burns will lead the Bank’s commercial banking expansion with an emphasis on relationship-based business deposit and loan growth on Long Island and across the New York metro market. Among other responsibilities, Burns will work closely with executive management to define the Bank’s commercial banking goals and strategies, develop and launch new products and expand into new markets.

“Joe is a seasoned leader with proven expertise in strategic expansion, developing and managing production teams and generating results. His knowledge of our key markets and robust industry relationships will accelerate the pace and impact of our commercial banking initiatives and support our strategic growth,” said Chairman and CEO Michael P. Puorro. “We are excited to add Joe to our executive management team as we expand our share of the commercial banking market, providing our growing customer base with the exceptional service, products and technology for which Hanover Bank is known.”

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of such a rapidly growing bank. As a proven leader, I look forward to doing all I can to support the Bank and my colleagues. In the wake of ongoing industry consolidation and the absence of relationship banking at larger institutions, Hanover Bank is extremely well-positioned for expansion. I look forward to working with the executive management team to drive relationship-based deposit and loan growth, forge strategic alliances and expand our market share on Long Island and across New York City and the NY metro market,” said Burns.

Burns joins Hanover Bank from Valley Bank where most recently he served as Regional President - New York State Commercial Banking. In this position, Burns led Valley’s New York commercial banking operation managing a diversified portfolio of $3.5 billion in loan commitments. His talents include collaboration in setting strategic direction to drive performance and creating solutions to meet the needs of the communities we serve. He earned his BBA in Management from Adelphi University.