Succeeding Thomas Burton, who will retire from his position on 31 December, Welch has served as the president and chief operating officer of the company since January 2012.
Prior to that, he served as the company’s executive vice president since 2006 and as the senior vice president and division executive for business banking of Hampden Bank since 2001.
Before Hampden, Welch served as vice president for middle market group at Fleet Bank.
Burton will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors of the company and the bank after 31 December 2012.
The bank was established in 1852 as a local community bank serving the families and businesses throughout Hampden County with ten branch office locations in US.
