Middlefield Bank Appoints Heslop President and CEO
MIDDLEFIELD, Ohio — Middlefield Banc Corp., holding company of The Middlefield Banking Co., announced today that James Heslop II will takeover as president and CEO on April 1.
Heslop is executive vice president, chief operating officer and director of Middlefield Banc Corp. and Middlefield Banking Co. He will succeed Thomas Caldwell, who is retiring.
“I am honored to be appointed CEO of The Middlefield Banking Co. and Middlefield Banc Corp,” Heslop said in a prepared statement. “I believe Middlefield is well positioned to continue to grow and capitalize on a compelling market opportunity across our Northeast and Central Ohio markets. We have a proven community-oriented value proposition, and a team of committed and talented associates. Together, we will build upon the bank’s 120-year history as we work to create sustained value for our shareholders.”
Caldwell is also retiring March 31 from the company’s board of directors. The board has taken action to reduce its size to nine members from 10 beginning April 1.
An active member of the Ohio banking community for more than 40 years, Heslop joined Middlefield in 1996 as executive vice president and chief operating officer, then became executive vice president and chief operating officer of the holding company in October 2000. Before joining Middlefield, Heslop served as director, president and CEO of First County Bank in Chardon, an affiliate of F.N.B. Corp.
Middlefield Board Chairman William Skidmore thanked Caldwell for his 35 years with Middlefield and wished him well on his retirement.
“Tom has been a consummate leader as both president and CEO of Middlefield Banc Corp. and The Middlefield Banking Co.,” Skidmore said. “Under his leadership, Middlefield has expanded from three offices in northeast Ohio to 16 offices, completed three successful acquisitions and grown its assets from $134.6 million at Dec. 31, 1995, to $1.33 billion at Dec. 31, 2021.”
“It has been a privilege to serve and lead The Middlefield Banking Co. over the past two decades,” Caldwell said. “I am leaving at a time when the bank is in a strong position, and I look forward to watching the company’s continued success.”
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
