Kevin O’Connor

President & CEO, BNB Bank

Since being named president and chief executive of BNB Bank in January 2008, Kevin O’Connor has overseen the institution’s growth into the largest community-based bank on Long Island, reflecting major expansion into both Nassau County and New York City. Since taking over the corner office, he’s changed the bank’s names (the original name was Bridgehampton National Bank); switched from federal charter to state; and nearly tripled the number of branches. O’Connor learned the banking business as a young accountant working at North Fork Bank under the legendary John Kanas, rising to the position of treasurer. After Capital One acquired North Fork, O’Connor interviewed at what was then Bridgehampton National Bank for the CFO position; unexpectedly the outgoing chief executive offered him the CEO spot instead. Time required by O’Connor to accept: 30 seconds. A Brooklyn native, O’Connor grew up in Farmingville and attended Suffolk Community College and Adelphi. A resident of Rocky Point, he’s also been a sports coach and past president of the Suffolk County Council of the Boy Scouts. He’s currently on the American Red Cross on Long Island Board of Directors, as well as the board of the New York State Bankers Association. An alumnus of Adelphi University’s School of Business, O’Connor tells students: “You have to wake up on Monday morning and be happy to go to work. If you wake up on Monday and you just can’t wait for Friday to come, you are in the wrong line of business—whatever business that is.”