Veteran commercial banker Phil Duryea recently took over as division manager in Northeast Ohio for JP Morgan Chase.
Duryea, 49, who was promoted in January, is based at the division's headquarters in downtown Akron.
He oversees operations for the Akron, Canton and Youngstown markets.
He leads the team of bankers who serve mid-sized businesses with annual revenues in the $20 million to $500 million range. His division includes 420 employees, including 340 in the Akron area.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead an experienced team serving this important region of Ohio for Chase Commercial Bank,” Duryea said,
A native of Michigan, Duryea has lived and worked in Cleveland for much of his 25-year career, including a long tenure with National City. He has been with Chase or its predecessors for the past 10 years, most recently as a middle-market banker in a Cleveland office. From 1996 to 2001, Duryea was a community president for National City in Ann Arbor, Mich.
“We are so fortunate to have someone of Phil's caliber — a career banker with an understanding from retail to small business to in-depth markets. It's rare to find someone with those accomplishments,” said James Geuther, president of the Northeast Ohio region.
Geuther, 49, said Chase has a large presence in the area and wants to continue to grow.
In addition to having local decision-makers at its branches, Duryea said, Chase has global resources to help businesses who want to expand into the international markets.
Said Geuther, who is based in Cleveland and oversees Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania: “We have locations with people and boots on the ground in these global markets in 60 countries.”
Chase is also active in the community, said Geuther, as sponsors of the Akron Urban League, University Park Alliance and Akron Marathon.
Duryea, who lives in Broadview Heights with his wife, has four children, two of whom have attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls.
He has joined the board of the Greater Akron Chamber and said he hasn't found his community involvement niche yet but traditionally has worked with the Salvation Army and United Way in other markets.
He has a bachelor's degree from Hillsdale College in Michigan and a master's degree from Case Western Reserve University.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blinfisher and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty.