COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC. appointed new CEO

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. 


(b), (c) On July 5, 2023, Community Bank System, Inc. (the "Company") announced that Mark E. Tryniski will retire as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") effective as of December 31, 2023. Since August 2006, Mr. Tryniski has served as the President, CEO and Director of the Company and its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A. (the "Bank"). The Board of Directors (the "Board") has selected Dimitar A. Karaivanov, the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer ("COO"), to succeed Mr. Tryniski effective as of January 1, 2024. In addition, the Board will expand to 13 Directors and appoint Mr. Karaivanov as a Director of the Company and the Bank effective as of January 1, 2024.


Mr. Karaivanov, age 41, joined the Company in June 2021 as its Executive Vice President of Financial Services and Corporate Development, responsible for the business and financial performance of three of the Company's four business lines - benefits administration, insurance services, and wealth management. In October 2022, he was appointed COO, adding responsibility for the Company's banking business - Community Bank, N.A. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Karaivanov served as Managing Director in Lazard's Financial Institutions Group and has extensive experience as an investment banker for banks, other financial institutions, and fintech companies at a number of leading financial services firms. Mr. Karaivanov holds an MBA degree from The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business. He is also a graduate of the American Bankers Association's Stonier Graduate School of Banking.


(e) In connection with Mr. Karaivanov's promotion, the Company and the Bank entered into a new Employment Agreement with him, effective as of January 1, 2024 (the "Employment Agreement"). The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Karaivanov shall serve as the President and CEO of the Company and the Bank during the period from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026. During the term of the Agreement, Mr. Karaivanov shall be paid a base salary at an annual rate of not less than $900,000, which will be reviewed and may be adjusted in future years in accordance with the Company's regular payroll practices for executive employees. Mr. Karaivanov will be eligible to receive annual incentive compensation under the terms of the Company's Management Incentive Plan ("MIP") as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The Employment Agreement may be terminated by the Company for cause at any time, and shall terminate upon Mr. Karaivanov's death or disability. In the event Mr. Karaivanov is terminated without cause or terminates his employment for good reason, he will be entitled to the greater of (i) 200 percent of the sum of his annual base salary at the time of termination and his MIP award for the year immediately preceding termination, or (ii) the amount of base salary and expected MIP payments, paid at target, that otherwise would have been payable to Mr. Karaivanov through the unexpired term of the agreement. If Mr. Karaivanov's employment is terminated upon or within two years following a change in control of the Company for reasons other than cause, death, or disability, or if Mr. Karaivanov voluntarily resigns during this period based upon an involuntary and material adverse change in his authority, duties, responsibilities, base compensation, or the geographic location of his assigned office, he shall be entitled to the greater of (i) three times his base salary and his MIP award for the year immediately preceding the change in control termination or (ii) the amount of base salary and expected MIP payments, paid at target, that otherwise would have been payable to Mr. Karaivanov through the unexpired term of the agreement. In addition, he shall receive a payment equal to the cash equivalent of certain benefits for a 36 month period. Mr. Karaivanov is subject to non-compete provisions which restrict his ability to engage in competing business activities for one year following termination of employment or to solicit customers of the Company or its affiliates for two years following termination of employment. The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Employment Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, and incorporated by reference.


There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Karaivanov and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as President and CEO. There are no family relationships between Mr. Karaivanov and any director or executive officer of the Company. There are no related party transactions between the Company and Mr. Karaivanov that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.