Tony Dobrowolski is reporting for The Berkshire Eagle the Berkshire Hills Bancorp has appointed Nitin J. Mhatre president and CEO of the holding company and CEO of Berkshire Bank, the board of directors has announced. Mhatre's appointment is effective Fri., Jan. 29. Sean Gray, who has served as acting CEO since August, will remain with the company as bank president and chief operating officer. "I am humbled and honored to join Berkshire on its 175-year banking journey, and to be the first CEO hired from outside the bank since its transformation to a public company in 2000," Mhatre said in a statement. With 25 years of experience in both community and global banking, Mhatre most recently served as executive vice president of community banking at Webster Bank, headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut. He was a member of the bank's executive team and led its consumer and business banking businesses. Before joining Webster, Mhatre served more than 13 years at Citi Group. He was chairman of the Board of the Consumer Bankers Association, from 2019 to 2020, and he currently serves on the board of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England. Berkshire Bank maintains locations in Chatham and Hudson. Read more in the Berkshire Eagle.