The former chief of staff to the state senate president and senate majority leader has been appointed the new president of the New Hampshire Bankers Association.

Kristy Merrill joins the association after nearly 15 years at the New Hampshire State House. She has worked in multiple roles at the New Hampshire Senate since 2003; for the last four years she was chief of staff, serving as senior advisor to the Senate president and Senate majority leader.

“On behalf of the board, we are pleased and excited to have Kristy join the New Hampshire Bankers Association,” NH Bankers board chairman Mark Pitkin said in a statement. “Her in-depth knowledge and experience of the state legislative process, as well as her strong management and communication skills, will enhance the NH Bankers’ team. We look forward to Kristy’s leadership to further strengthen the association’s efforts on behalf of the banking industry.”

Pitkin is also president and CEO of Newport-based Sugar River Bank.

“I am deeply honored to have been chosen as the next president of the New Hampshire Bankers Association, and grateful to the association for the confidence they have placed in me. I know that our banks play a key role in our state as job creators, taxpayers, civic leaders and drivers of our economy, and I look forward to working closely with them to share their stories and serve as their advocate in New Hampshire and in Washington D.C.,” Merrill said in a statement. “I’m excited to get to work and hope to continue NH Bankers’ long tradition of strongly representing the banking industry while fostering a banking environment that strengthens our state and supports our citizens, our nonprofits and our business communities.”

Merrill has been a board member for Families in Transition in Manchester from 2014 to 2018 and was a commission member of the Heritage Commission for the city of Manchester from 2008 to 2013.