Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sandra Novick
Director of Marketing
(631) 537-1001, ext. 263
Bridge Bancorp, Inc. Elects two new directors
(Bridgehampton, NY - July 22, 2002) Bridge Bancorp, Inc. (The "Company")
(NASDAQ/OTCBB:BDGE), the holding company for The Bridgehampton National Bank
(the "Bank"), announced that its Board of Directors elected two new members at
its meeting on July 15th, 2002. Both Dennis Suskind and Charles I. Massoud will
serve as Directors of Bridge Bancorp, Inc. and its banking subsidiary, The
Bridgehampton National Bank. They will assume duties at the regularly scheduled
meeting of the Board of Directors on August 19th.
Thomas J. Tobin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bridge Bancorp, Inc.,
commented, "Corporate governance is an increasingly important issue for all
public companies regardless of size. The knowledge and experience of both Mr.
Suskind and Mr. Massoud add new perspectives and oversight to our Board of
Directors. The abilities and expertise of these individuals will augment the
strengths of our Board, and support our potential for Company growth as we
continue to deliver consistent financial performance to our shareholders." Mr.
Tobin continued, "Both gentlemen are actively involved in our marketplace on
professional and personal levels. It is our pleasure to welcome them as The
Bridge Group continues to move forward with new business initiatives."
Dennis Suskind, presently serves as Councilman for the Town of Southampton. Mr.
Suskind was General Partner at Goldman Sachs until his retirement in 1990. At
Goldman Sachs, his responsibilities in the Commodities and Currency Division
included oversight of the company's worldwide precious metal operations, with
approximately 300 employees under his area of supervision. Mr. Suskind has
served as Vice Chairman of both the New York Mercantile and Commodity Exchanges.
He proudly serves as President of the Board of the Arthur Ashe Institute for
Urban Health. Mr. Suskind continues to volunteer his time and expertise to many
other
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sandra Novick
Director of Marketing
(631) 537-1001, ext. 263
worthwhile organizations including service on the President's Council of Peconic
Land Trust, Director of the United Equity Fund, and former membership on the
Board of Trustees of the South Fork/Shelter Island Chapter of the Nature
Conservancy. Mr. Suskind is President of the world renown Hampton Classic Horse
Show. Dennis Suskind and his wife Cynthia are parents of four children. They
have been members of the Bridgehampton community for nearly 30 years and
maintain residences in Bridgehampton and Manhattan.
Charles I. Massoud holds his Masters of Business Administration from the
prestigious Wharton School. Mr. Massoud worked for IBM for nearly 20 years as a
marketing executive both domestically and abroad. In 1983 Mr. Massoud and his
wife Ursula planted 15 acres of grapes after purchasing an old potato farm in
Aquebogue, and in 1991 they sold their first wine. In 1992, Mr. Massoud took
early retirement from IBM and turned a wine making hobby into his full-time
profession. Today, Paumanok Vineyard has grown to 63 producing acres, with
Paumanok maintaining a reputation for fine quality wines. Mr. Massoud has played
a leadership role in the development of the wine industry on the East End,
having been elected President of the Long Island Wine Council for five terms
before stepping down in 2000. He serves as Trustee at Central Suffolk Hospital
acting as Corporate Secretary and chairman of the Hospital's strategic planning
committee. Charles and Ursula Massoud have three children.
The Bridgehampton National Bank is the oldest independent commercial bank
headquartered on the South Fork of Long Island. In addition to its latest branch
which opened July 19th in The Hampton Bays Town Center, the Bank operates retail
branches in Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Greenport, Mattituck, Montauk, Sag
Harbor, Southampton, Southampton Village and Southold.
The Bridgehampton National Bank, which is locally directed and managed maintains
a policy of community involvement through programs and initiatives that enhance
the environment and quality of life on the East End. The Bank is a member of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is an Equal Housing Lender and Equal
Opportunity Employer.
This release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on
management's current expectations regarding economic, legislative, and
regulatory issues that may impact the Company's earnings in future periods.
Factors that could cause future results to vary materially from current
management expectations include, but are not limited to, general economic
conditions, changes in interest rates, deposit flows real estate values, and
competition; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; changes
in legislation or regulation; and other economic, competitive, governmental,
regulatory and technological factors affecting the Company's operations,
pricing, products and services.
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