Leadership
Executive Team
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Thomas X. Geisel
President, Chief Executive OfficerThomas Geisel is President and CEO of Republic Bank and Republic First Bancorp, Inc. Prior to joining Republic, Mr. Geisel held senior executive positions at Webster Bank Corporation (formerly known as Sterling Bancorp), which was preceded by his time at Sun Bancorp, Inc. where he served as President & CEO and Director. Prior to Sun Bancorp, Mr. Geisel was at KeyCorp which included serving as President of the Northeast Region.
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Brian F. Doran, Esq.
EVP, General CounselBrian Doran is EVP and General Counsel, leading the Bank's legal and corporate governance initiatives. Mr. Doran was EVP, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Administrative Officer at Investors Bancorp. He previously held senior and legal positions at Banco Popular NA, Partner at McConnell Valdes LLC, and Associate with Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.
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Sharon Hammel
EVP, Chief Retail OfficerSharon Hammel joined Republic Bank in 2012 with over 25 years of previous banking experience. She serves as EVP and Chief Retail Officer and is responsible for leading the Bank’s Consumer Lending, Marketing, Store Administration, Customer Service and Treasury Management departments. Prior to joining Republic, Ms. Hammel was Senior Retail Market Manager at Commerce Bank.
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Michael W. Harrington
EVP, Chief Financial OfficerMichal Harrington is Chief Financial Officer of Republic Bank serving 35 years in various operating roles within the banking sector. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Harrington was a Banker-in-Residence at JAM Special Opportunity Ventures, and Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of The Bryn Mawr Trust Company. He also served in CFO roles at Susquehanna Bancshares and First Niagara Financial Group.
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Steve McWilliams
EVP, Chief Lending OfficerSteve McWilliams is EVP and Chief Lending Officer and previously acted as Republic Bank’s Philadelphia Metro Market President and was a Senior Lender. Mr. McWilliams was also responsible for the Bank’s growth in New York City. Since his arrival in 2009, he has been an integral part of the Bank's commercial loan growth to $1.2B or 186%. Prior to joining Republic, Steve worked as RVP in various markets for Commerce Bank for eight years.
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Jay Neilon
EVP, Chief Credit OfficerJay Neilon joined Republic Bank in 2009 as Chief Credit Officer. Mr. Neilon is an Executive Vice President and is responsible for leading the bank’s Credit department. A local banker for over 30 years, Mr. Neilon previously worked for Commerce Bank and Fidelity Bank.
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Linda Sanchez
EVP, Chief People OfficerLinda Sanchez is EVP and Chief People Officer, with over 25 years of experience in human resources, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, administration, and operations in the financial and professional services sector. Ms. Sanchez served as CPO at Diversified Search Group and Chief HR Officer at Bryn Mawr Trust, in addition to executive roles at other reputable financial groups throughout her career.
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Tracie Young
EVP, Chief Risk OfficerTracie Young joined Republic Bank in 2010 with over 20 years of previous banking experience. Ms. Young is EVP and Chief Risk Officer and is responsible for leading the Bank’s Compliance and Risk Departments. Prior to joining the Bank, she was Director of Internal Audit and Director of Risk Management for Harleysville National Bank.
Board of Directors
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Andrew B. Cohen
Andrew B. Cohen is currently the Independent Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Cohen is a long-term shareholder of Republic and became a director of the Company and Bank in 2017. He is the Chief Investment Officer and Co-Founder of Cohen Private Ventures LLC, and holds board positions for multiple organizations such as the New York Mets Baseball Club and Laureate Education, Inc.
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Thomas X. Geisel
Thomas Geisel is President and CEO of Republic Bank and Republic First Bancorp, Inc. Prior to joining Republic, Mr. Geisel held senior executive positions at Webster Bank Corporation (formerly known as Sterling Bancorp), which was preceded by his time at Sun Bancorp, Inc. where he served as President & CEO and Director. Prior to Sun Bancorp, Mr. Geisel was at KeyCorp which included serving as President of the Northeast Region.
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Peter B. Bartholow
Peter Bartholow has been a director of the Company and the Bank since September 2022. Mr. Bartholow most recently served as COO and member of the Board of Directors of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. Mr. Bartholow served as Managing Director of Hat Creek Partners LLC, as Corporate VP of Finance at Electronic Data Systems, Corp., as CFO of First USA, Inc., and as Chairman of the Board of Directors, CFO, CEO and President of MCorp.
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Benjamin C. Duster, IV
Ben Duster is Founder of Cormorant IV Corporation LLC, an executive management and strategic advisory consulting practice; and CFO of Mobile Tech, Inc. (MTI). He is a member of the board of directors of several companies, including Chesapeake Energy, Cardone Industries and Weatherford International. Mr. Duster also serves on the board of the 1921 Institute.
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Lisa Jacobs
Lisa Jacobs has been Director of the Company and Bank since February 2017. She is a partner at Stradley Ronon Stevens and Young, LLC, resident in its Philadelphia office. Ms. Jacobs is an active member of the Uniform Law Commission, the American Law Institute, the Joint Editorial Board on Uniform Unincorporated Organizations Acts, the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, and the PA Department of State Corporations Bureau Advisory Board.
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Harry D. Madonna
Harry Madonna founded the Bank in 1988. He held several Executive positions including President and CEO of the holding Company until 2022, and served as Chairman, CEO, President, and Board Director for various timeframes. Mr. Madonna was of counsel to Spector Gadon & Rosen, PC, and a partner of Blank Rome LLP for over 20 years.
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Harris Wildstein
Harris Wildstein has been a Director of the Bank since 1988. Since September 2004, Mr. Wildstein has been an owner and officer of Lifeline Funding, LLC, a pre-settlement funding organization. He has been the Vice President of R&S Imports, Ltd., an automobile dealership, since 1977, and President of HVW, Inc., another automobile dealership since 1982.