William J. Ryan has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Banknorth Group, Inc., headquartered in Portland, Maine, and its predecessor company, Peoples Heritage Financial Group, since 1990. Banknorth is a $30 billion banking and financial services holding company, which was recently named the "Best Managed Bank in America" by Forbes Magazine. The Company operates in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New York.

Mr. Ryan has a quarter century of banking experience, joining Banknorth in 1989. Prior to joining Banknorth, he served as President of the Bank of New England North in Lowell, Massachusetts, and as Executive Vice President of Community Banking for the Bank of New England in Boston. Earlier in his career, he was President of BNE Baystate, a commercial bank subsidiary of the Bank of New England, and a Vice President of the Bank of New England. Mr. Ryan began his banking career with Essexbank in Peabody, Massachusetts, where he held numerous senior management positions of increasing responsibility.

Mr. Ryan serves as a Trustee of Colby College; Director, Anthem, Inc.; Trustee of Libra Foundation; Director, eFunds Corporation; Director, UnumProvident Corporation; Board of Advisors, University of New England; Member, Federal Reserve Advisory Council; and participates in various other civic and professional activities.

Mr. Ryan is a graduate of St. Francis College in New York and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.