Gerald H. Lipkin, CEO of Valley National Bancorp, the holding company for Valley National Bank,will retire at the end of 2017. Ira Robbins will become CEO of both the holding company and will join the bank’s board while continuing to serve as president and director of Valley National Bank.

Robbins joined Valley in 1996 as part of the bank’s management associate program and has held several key positions throughout the Bank over the past two decades. Presently, Robbins is directly responsible for credit administration, retail banking, technology, human resources, treasury, finance and serves on the bank’s credit committee. As CEO he will be instrumental in further developing Valley’s strategic vision and direction, while promoting a culture that embraces corporate social responsibility.

“Ira has been a long time valuable member of Valley’s executive team and has played an important role in our recent success,” AAndrew Abramson, the board’s lead director, said. “The board and I enthusiastically welcome Ira in his new position and look forward to his leadership and new vision for Valley.”

Lipkin’s has served at Valley for 42 years, including 29 years as chairman, president & CEO, beginning in 1989. During that time, Lipkin grew the bank from an eight-branch New Jersey community bank to a three-state regional commercial bank with approximately $23 billion in assets and over 200 branches. Lipkin will remain with Valley as chairman of the board but will not be involved in the daily management of Valley.