Johnson Financial Group announces CEO hansen’s retirement; Weyers NAMED NEW CEO effective 2011

Helen Johnson-Leipold and Richard Hansen

Chairman of Johnson Financial Group, Helen Johnson-Leipold held a special meeting this morning for all company associates to share news that Richard A. Hansen (right), CEO of Johnson Financial has formally announced his plans for retirement. In the same meeting, Johnson-Leipold announced Russell C. Weyers would become the fourth President and CEO of Johnson Financial effective January 2011.

“After 15 years of leading our company to unprecedented growth and success, Dick has officially decided to retire at the end of this year,” said Johnson-Leipold. “Careful, deliberate succession planning anticipated this day would come, and we are confident Russ is the right person, the best person to assume this important leadership role at a key time in our company’s history,” added Johnson-Leipold.

In 1995, Hansen was named President and CEO by the founder of Johnson Financial Group, the late Samuel C. Johnson. Over 15 years later, under Hansen’s leadership Johnson Financial Group has expanded its portfolio of services and geographic footprint, and earned local, regional and national recognition as one of the country’s best places to work. Commenting on Hansen’s leadership, Johnson-Leipold added “Dick has kept our organization keenly focused on doing the right thing for our clients, associates and communities.”

Weyers (right), who also joined the company in 1995, started his career at Johnson Bank as a senior commercial lender and held a number of positions of increasing responsibility over the years, including President of Johnson Bank and EVP-Strategic Development Officer. He was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Johnson Financial in 2004, responsible for overseeing the operations of commercial and consumer banking, trust and wealth management services. Weyers also serves on the Board of Directors for Johnson Insurance and Johnson Bank, and is president of Johnson Community Development Company.

His contribution to the banking industry in Wisconsin has been noted in local and national press. Articles featuring Weyers have appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Wisconsin State Journal, Small Business Times, The Milwaukee Business Journal, The Phoenix Business Journal, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.

Weyers is a member of the Board of Directors and immediate past Chairman of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA), the largest financial trade association in the state. As WBA Chairman, he faced the most troubling and chaotic economic time our state, our nation, has faced since the Great Depression.

“Russ has worked side-by-side with Dick over the years to build a culture, company and reputation we are all proud of. Over the next six months, they will continue to be a great team to ensure a seamless and successful transition,” said Johnson-Leipold.