Beacon Financial, the holding company of Beacon Bank, has appointed Sean A. Gray as Chief Executive Officer of the company and its banking subsidiary, effective September 21, 2026. Gray succeeds Paul A. Perrault, who retired from his executive positions after a banking career spanning more than five decades.
Gray has also joined the boards of directors of Beacon Financial Corporation and Beacon Bank.
Perrault will remain with Beacon in a consulting capacity for one year to support the leadership transition.
The appointment follows a succession planning process overseen by Beacon’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, with assistance from Richard Perkey of Caldwell Partners.
Gray brings nearly 30 years of banking experience, including leadership responsibilities across commercial banking, asset-based lending, wealth management, specialty lending, and enterprise operations.
He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Beacon Financial, where he oversaw enterprise operations and the systems integration associated with the merger that established the company.
Beacon Financial was created through the combination of Brookline Bancorp and Berkshire Hills Bancorp.
Gray’s appointment comes as the combined organization continues integrating its operations and pursuing the financial and operational objectives established through the merger.
Before assuming his responsibilities at Beacon, Gray served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Berkshire Bank from November 2018 through 2025.
He was also Senior Executive Vice President of Berkshire Hills Bancorp from 2015 through 2025 and served as interim CEO between August 2020 and January 2021.
Gray joined Berkshire Bank in 2007, subsequently holding responsibilities across several major operating divisions.
His experience includes leading retail and commercial banking, specialty lending, and wealth management activities.
He has also overseen technology, risk management, human resources, marketing, corporate development, corporate strategy, analytics, and regional market operations.
As Beacon’s new CEO, Gray will focus on completing the integration of the combined company, improving operating performance, and expanding its relationship-driven commercial banking operations.
The company intends to preserve its regional operating model, which emphasizes local decision-making and market-centered leadership.
Gray has also identified realizing merger efficiencies and optimizing Beacon’s expense structure as important priorities.
Additional areas of focus include organic growth, disciplined capital allocation, maintaining the company’s dividend, and evaluating additional ways to return capital to shareholders.
Beacon Financial is headquartered in Boston and operates a regional banking franchise serving customers across New England and New York.
The company reports approximately $22.3 billion in assets and more than 145 branches.
Its banking operations include commercial banking, cash management, asset-based lending, residential lending, consumer banking, and other financial services.
Beacon also provides equipment financing through Eastern Funding, Small Business Administration lending through 44 Business Capital, and private wealth management through Beacon Bank and Clarendon Private.
Gray holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from Bentley University.
His appointment establishes a new executive leadership structure as Beacon continues developing its combined banking franchise.
KEY QUOTES:
“Sean is an established leader with broad operating expertise, deep institutional knowledge and proven relationships with our colleagues, clients, shareholders and communities. His appointment represents an important catalyst for Beacon’s next phase of profitable growth as the Company remains focused on delivering the commitments established through the merger: accelerating execution, strengthening performance and fully realizing the promise of the combined company.”
David M. Brunelle, Chairperson Of Beacon Financial Corporation
“Beacon is well-positioned to grow, with greater scale, expanded capabilities and a stronger operating platform that allows us to accelerate our progress as a relationship-driven commercial bank. At the same time, we will continue to support our regional operating model, local decision-making and market-centered leadership so we remain close to our clients and communities. Our focus must be on disciplined execution, enhancing performance, and accountability to all stakeholders as we operate as one company with one culture and one commitment.”
Sean A. Gray, CEO Of Beacon Financial Corporation And Beacon Bank
