Brookline expands board

BOSTON – Brookline Bancorp Inc. last week announced the expansion of its board of directors by one member and appointed John M. Pereira to fill the spot.
The board of directors of Brookline Bancorp, parent of Bank Rhode Island, approved the increased amount of board members from 13 to 14 members, according to a federal filing. Pereira is president of the Malden, Mass.-based real estate investment and development firm Combined Properties Inc.
Pereira in April was appointed to the board of directors of Brookline Bank, a Brookline Bancorp company, according to a company spokeswoman, who said it was anticipated at that time he would be added to the board of directors of Brookline Bancorp “at the next opportunity.”
Brookline Bancorp chairman Joseph J. Slotnik in a statement said the board was pleased with the addition.
“John brings valuable experience and perspective which will serve our company well,” Slotnik said.
Pereira’s term of office would expire at the 2016 annual stockholders meeting and when a successor has been elected and qualified, according to the filing, and he will serve on the company’s Credit Committee and Risk Committee.
Paul Perrault, president and CEO of Brookline Bancorp lauded Pereira in a statement saying he looked forward to working with him.
“John is well respected in the community and is a valuable addition to our board,” Perrault said.
Brookline Bancorp is a multi-banking holding company for Brookline Bank, First Ipswich Bank, Bank Rhode Island and their subsidiaries. The Boston-based company has $5.8 billion in assets and branches through Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Pereira was formerly a partner with the law firm Sherin and Lodgen in Boston and is a registered real estate broker, member of the Great Boston real Estate Board along with a slew of other organizations, including the Massachusetts Bar Association, according to the filing.