UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 13, 2023

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware
  
001-15781
  
04-3510455
(State or Other Jurisdiction)
of Incorporation)
  
(Commission File No.)
  
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts
  
02109
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 773-5601, ext. 133773

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
  
Title of each class
  
Trading symbol(s)
  
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share
  
BHLB
  
New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

On September 13, 2023, the Board of Directors of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Mary Anne Callahan to the Board of Directors of the Company, effective immediately.  The Board of Directors also appointed Ms. Callahan to the Compensation Committee and the Risk Management, Capital and Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors. Ms. Callahan will be considered an independent director. Ms. Callahan was also appointed to the Board of Directors of Berkshire Bank.
Ms. Callahan, age 60, served most recently as a Managing Director in the Financial Services Group at Piper Sandler Companies. Prior to joining Piper Sandler, she was a principal in Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.’s investment banking group advising banks, thrifts and specialty finance companies and worked in the financial institutions group at Merrill Lynch and CIBC World Markets. Ms. Callahan holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College.
There were no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Callahan and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Callahan was selected as a director. Ms. Callahan is not a party to any transaction with the Company or Berkshire Bank that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K.

A news release containing additional information is included herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)
Financial statements of businesses acquired.  Not Applicable.
   
(b)
Pro forma financial information.  Not Applicable.
   
(c)
Shell company transactions: Not Applicable.
   
(d)
Exhibits:
 
 
Exhibit No.
Description
 
     
 
104.1
Cover Page for this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

   
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
     
     
DATE:  September 14, 2023
By:  
 /s/ Wm. Gordon Prescott
   
Wm. Gordon Prescott
Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary