Pathfinder Bank announced the appointment of Joseph Polniak as first vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.
In this role, Polniak will serve as Pathfinder Bank’s chief legal officer and a member of the executive leadership team, providing strategic guidance to support governance, regulatory compliance and business objectives.
Polniak will oversee all legal, regulatory and governance matters and advise the board of directors and executive management on risk, corporate governance, contracts, litigation, employment matters and strategic initiatives. In addition, Polniak will serve as corporate secretary to the board and collaborate closely with risk, compliance and operational teams to support enterprise risk management and the bank’s community-focused growth.
“I am pleased to welcome Joe Polniak to Pathfinder Bank as our general counsel,” said Jim Dowd, president and CEO. “Joe brings a collaborative, business-minded approach to legal leadership and extensive experience guiding organizations in complex, regulated environments. His insight, judgment and ability to partner closely with teams across the bank will be an invaluable resource as we continue to grow and serve our communities.”
Polniak brings more than 17 years of legal and business experience across private practice and senior in-house leadership roles at publicly traded companies in highly regulated industries. Most recently, he served as deputy general counsel at Moog Inc., a global precision controls manufacturer headquartered in Buffalo. Previously, Polniak held senior legal leadership roles at Integer Holdings Corporation, including interim general counsel and corporate secretary, and began his legal career in private practice with Ropes & Gray LLP and BarclayDamon LLP.
Polniak earned his Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law and holds an MBA from Clarkson University. He is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Bar Association of Erie County, and the Niagara Frontier Corporate Counsel Association.
