First Niagara names Alexander Gress treasurer

BUFFALO — First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNFG) has named Alexander Gress as its senior vice president and treasurer.

Gress will be responsible for leading teams managing interest-rate risk, capital and liquidity, product pricing, and the investment portfolio at First Niagara, the Buffalo–based banking company said in a news release.

He joins First Niagara from J.E.N. Advisory, Inc., a private investment and advisory company that Gress formed in Toronto to provide merchant-banking services such as seed-capital investments, new business development, strategic and financial planning, and institutional fundraising for early- to medium-stage operating companies, the news release stated.

Previously, Gress held various domestic and international senior leadership roles at CIBC World Markets, JPMorgan Securities, Wachovia Securities, and Lehman Brothers.

Gress, a CPA, began his career at Price Waterhouse LLP in its capital-markets practice in New York City. The Buffalo native graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Jeffrey Maddigan, who previously served as treasurer, remains First Niagara’s chief investment officer, the company noted. As senior vice president and CIO, Maddigan will continue to lead the team overseeing the company’s investment portfolio, wholesale funding, and product pricing.

First Niagara said Gress brings broad financial-services experience from his tenure at multiple top-tier companies.

“Alex has a deep understanding of financial markets and proven financial services experience from his 18 years with major financial institutions and global firms,” CFO Gregory W. Norwood said in the news release. “We remain committed to attracting top talent and we’re pleased to have a financial executive with Alex’s expertise and track record on board to continue our existing Treasury and balance sheet management strategies.”

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., has about 420 branches, $37 billion in assets, $27 billion in deposits, and about 6,000 employees serving upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com