Northwest Bank announced that Chad Ballard joined the company as Chief Information Officer on May 18, according to a press release statement. Ballard reports directly to President and CEO Louis Torchio and serves as a member of the executive leadership team.

In his role, Ballard leads the bank's information technology strategy and operations, focusing on technology initiatives that support business priorities and operational efficiency. He brings more than 25 years of technology leadership experience to the position.

Ballard most recently served as CIO for Shared Services Operations at Wells Fargo, where he developed a Know Your Customer platform and deployed AI agents. He previously held leadership roles at JP Morgan Chase and PNC, leading core banking, digital channels, and AI platform transformations.

"Chad brings deep experience in technology leadership and a strong understanding of how technology supports growth, innovation and risk management in financial services," said Torchio. "His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to invest in systems and capabilities that support our ongoing transformation and growth."

Ballard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He will be based in Columbus, Ohio, working with teams across Northwest Bank to modernize technology platforms.

Northwest Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: NWBI) operates 151 full-service financial centers and 11 drive-up locations across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Indiana. The company was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.