Christopher Becker
About Christopher Becker
Christopher Becker is Vice Chairman and Director of ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. and ConnectOne Bank following CNOB’s June 1, 2025 merger with The First of Long Island Corporation; he previously served as President & CEO of The First National Bank of Long Island and The First of Long Island Corporation . He was appointed to CNOB’s Board concurrent with the merger; age and formal education are not disclosed in CNOB’s filings, and his independence status is not specified in the appointment 8‑K . Tenure on CNOB’s board began June 1, 2025 . As Vice Chairman, his responsibilities include presiding at board meetings in the Chairman’s absence, strengthening stakeholder relationships, supporting integration of FLIC, and other duties reasonably directed by the Board .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The First of Long Island Corporation | President & CEO; Director | Prior to June 1, 2025 (ended at merger) | Led FLIC; service ended upon merger completion |
| The First National Bank of Long Island | President & CEO | Prior to June 1, 2025 (ended at merger) | Led FNBLI; integrated into ConnectOne Bank at merger |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. | Vice Chairman; Director | Current | Appointed June 1, 2025; Board expanded to 15 members |
| ConnectOne Bank | Vice Chairman; Director | Current | Appointed concurrently |
| Other public company boards | — | Not disclosed | CNOB’s 2025 proxy stated no CNOB director was serving on another SEC‑registered company at that time; Becker joined post‑proxy; no other boards disclosed in 8‑K |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Becker, along with Ed Haye and Peter Quick, had not yet been appointed to any committees as of the June 2, 2025 8‑K .
- Lead Independent Director: Stephen T. Boswell serves as Lead Independent Director; he presides over executive sessions and coordinates agendas with the Chair/CEO .
- Independence: CNOB’s board has a majority of independent directors under Nasdaq standards; Becker’s individual independence status is not specified in his appointment filing .
- Attendance: CNOB’s Board held 15 meetings in 2024; each then‑serving director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings. Becker was appointed in 2025 (no attendance data yet) .
- Majority vote policy: CNOB bylaws adopt majority voting in uncontested elections, with irrevocable resignations if a director fails to receive a majority; resignations become effective upon replacement or within 90 days .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Source/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vice Chairman Retainer (cash) | $180,000 per year | Payable quarterly; in addition to standard board fees |
| Annual Director Cash Retainer | $60,000 | Paid to non‑employee directors |
| Annual Director Equity Retainer | $60,000 (3,219 restricted shares in 2024) | Standard equity award; 2025 grant size not yet disclosed for Becker |
| Committee Chair Stipends | Audit & Risk: $25,000; Compensation: $13,500; Nominating & Corporate Governance: $12,000 | Cash; only if appointed as chair |
| Committee Member Stipends (non‑chair) | Audit & Risk: $10,000; Compensation: $6,000; Nominating & Corporate Governance: $6,000 | Cash; only if appointed |
| Lead Independent Director stipend | $15,000 | Applies to Lead Independent Director; not to Vice Chairman per policy |
Becker is also eligible for “standard ConnectOne board fees, committee fees and equity awards” in addition to the Vice Chairman retainer .
Performance Compensation
| Element | Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Director performance‑based pay | None disclosed | CNOB provides time‑based restricted stock to directors; no director performance metrics disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Relationship | Details | Governance Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment commitments | CNOB agrees to nominate Becker for election for three successive terms on CNOB and CNOB Bank boards unless inconsistent with fiduciary duty | Creates nomination expectations; see risk assessment |
| Board refresh via merger | Becker, Peter Quick, and Ed Haye added from FLIC; Board expanded to 15 | Adds banking expertise and regional insights |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Banking leadership: Former President & CEO of FLIC and FNBLI; brings regional market knowledge and commercial banking experience .
- Integration and strategy: VCSA assigns strategic support for FLIC integration and stakeholder engagement .
- Board leadership: Vice Chairman responsibilities include presiding when Chairman is absent and strengthening relationships .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership at CNOB | Not disclosed for Becker in March 31, 2025 proxy (appointment occurred post‑proxy) | Will accrue standard restricted stock awards as director |
| Ownership guidelines (directors) | Required to achieve ownership equal to 5x the sum of then‑current annual cash retainer plus annual equity award; 5‑year compliance window | Using current policy, 5 × ($60k + $60k) = $600k value guideline (illustrative, policy‑based) |
| Hedging/pledging | Directors prohibited from hedging or pledging CNOB stock; legacy pledges grandfathered as of Nov 23, 2021 | Policy applies to directors and executives |
Governance Assessment
-
Positives
- Board refresh adds seasoned bank operator; Vice Chairman role tailored to integration and regional growth following the merger, supporting board effectiveness .
- Strong governance frameworks: majority voting with contingent resignations; majority independent board; formal committee charters; independent compensation consultant (Meridian) .
- Shareholder alignment mechanisms: director equity grants; stock ownership guidelines; insider trading policy prohibits hedging/pledging; robust clawback for executive incentive pay .
- Shareholder support: 2024 say‑on‑pay approval was 95.2%, signaling high investor confidence in pay governance .
-
Potential Risks and Red Flags
- Cash‑heavy compensation: A dedicated $180k Vice Chairman retainer on top of standard director cash and equity increases fixed pay and may reduce at‑risk alignment relative to standard directors .
- Nomination and vesting protections: The VCSA requires CNOB to nominate Becker for three successive terms; failure to nominate triggers a lump‑sum payment of remaining retainer and full vesting of any non‑vested equity awards, which can constrain board flexibility and create optics of entrenchment risk if not governed carefully .
- Non‑compete and non‑solicit: Agreement imposes post‑service restrictions across CNOB’s operating counties and Fairfield County, CT; while protective, it formalizes an atypical independent‑contractor framework for a director role, requiring vigilance on independence optics .
- Independence and committees: Independence status for Becker is not disclosed; he had not yet been appointed to any committees at the time of filing, delaying clarity on his governance workload and audit/compensation oversight responsibilities .
- Related‑party environment: CNOB’s board includes legacy related‑party branch leases and a grandfathered pledge by a director; though no Becker‑specific related‑party transaction is disclosed, overall board‑level conflicts must continue to be monitored post‑merger .
Overall implication: Becker’s bank leadership and integration remit are a net positive for CNOB’s strategic execution post‑merger. The VCSA’s nomination and accelerated vesting terms represent governance sensitivities that investors should monitor, along with eventual committee assignments and explicit independence designation .
Appendix: CNOB Director Compensation Policy (for context)
| Policy Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual director cash fee | $60,000 |
| Annual director equity award | $60,000; 3,219 restricted shares in 2024 |
| Committee chair stipends | Audit $25,000; Compensation $13,500; Nominating & Corporate Governance $12,000 |
| Committee member stipends | Audit $10,000; Compensation $6,000; Nominating & Corporate Governance $6,000 |
| Lead Independent Director | Additional $15,000 cash |
| Ownership guidelines | Directors must reach 5x of (cash retainer + equity award) within 5 years |
| Anti‑hedging/pledging | Prohibited; legacy pledges grandfathered |
| Clawback policy | Executive incentive compensation recoupment upon financial restatement |