New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp, the parent company of Meredith Village Savings Bank, Merrimack County Savings Bank, Savings Bank of Walpole and NHTrust, has a new top lawyer.

The bank said it’s hired Rober J. Dietel as executive vice president, general counsel and chief risk officer.

Dietel comes to the bank from Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell PC, a major Concord-based law firm where he was the president, according to his LinkedIn page, and at which he earned numerous industry accolades. The firm has a significant banking advisory practice, which Dietel worked in for much of his 12 years at the firm.

“Rob’s experience will be an immediate asset as we accelerate initiatives focused on legal risk mitigation, digital transformation, overall governance and support a strong internal control structure. His leadership will help us further strengthen safety and soundness, while embedding legal and risk discipline into the way we operate today and the way we plan for tomorrow,” NHMB CEO Gregg Tewksbury said in a statement.

In his new role, Dietel will establish the mutual bank holding company’s in-house legal team, NHMB said, and “have a significant role in assisting in the governance practices of the company.”

Dietel will be based at NHMB’s Foundry Street operations facility in Concord.