Scott S. Hickey, Associated Bank’s executive vice president and chief credit officer, announced his plans to retire in Q2/17.

In anticipation of Hickey’s retirement, James Simons has accepted the position of executive vice president and deputy chief credit officer effective September 1, 2016. He will report to Hickey and serve as a member of the executive committee.

With more than 38 years of industry experience, Simons joins Associated from CIT, where he most recently served as chief credit officer for the Energy, Power, Technology, Real Estate, Private Banking, Middle Market and SBA business lines. He has also held executive credit roles with Guaranty Bancorp and US Bancorp.

“Thanks in large part to Scott’s leadership, the company has successfully built and maintained robust internal portfolio management controls,” said Philip B. Flynn, Associated president and CEO. “Those controls allow us to ensure that loan growth exposure is managed in both a disciplined and business-building manner. We thank him for his contributions and wish him the best.”

Based in Green Bay, WI, Associated Banc-Corp has total assets of $29 billion.