QCR Holdings, Inc., the Moline-based holding company, announced today that Larry J. Helling will retire from his role as chief executive officer of the company and of Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company, one of its subsidiaries.
He will retire immediately following the annual stockholders meeting on May 22 of Quad City Bank & Trust, its first wholly-owned bank subsidiaries. In addition, Mr. Helling will retire at that time from the company’s boards of directors and Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company.
Todd A. Gipple, QCR’s current president and chief financial officer, will become the company’s new president and CEO. In addition, Nick W. Anderson, senior vice president and chief accounting officer, will replace Mr. Gipple as chief financial officer.
“We were extremely fortunate to have Larry’s leadership as CEO over the past six years. Larry joined the organization in 2001 with the formation of Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company and became CEO of the company in 2019. Larry has left an indelible mark on the entire organization,” Marie Ziegler, the board chair of QCR Holdings, said in a Monday, Feb. 24, news release.
“Larry’s focus on our clients, shareholders and employees through his emphasis on local control of our banking subsidiaries has been critical in guiding us through the past several years, which included the pandemic and the unique inflationary economic environment,” she added. “We appreciate Larry’s dedication to the organization and working with the board to implement a seamless succession. We congratulate Larry on his impressive career and look forward to his continued friendship during his well-earned retirement.”
Helling honored to serve
In sharing his gratitude, Mr. Helling said in the release “It’s been an honor to serve at QCR Holdings and its banking subsidiaries for more than two decades. I have been fortunate to see the positive impacts that our company has had on the communities we serve. We are a relationship-driven organization, and that is reflected in our talented employees, who work diligently to make a positive difference for our clients.”
Mr. Helling also applauded his successor’s contributions to the company. “Our growth and success in recent years have been possible because of Todd’s leadership and exceptional ability to work with others. I leave knowing that the organization will continue to be guided by a strong leader who embraces our culture,” he added.
Mr. Gipple has served as CFO since 2000 after transitioning from a successful public accounting career. During his years in the organization, Mr. Gipple has served in other capacities including chief operating officer, president and, since 2009, as a company director. He also serves on the boards of the company’s various banking subsidiaries.
In the Quad Cities, Mr. Gipple is an active community leader serving on the board of directors and executive committees of several local organizations over the past 40 years. He currently serves on the board of directors of The John Deere Classic and is past-chair and a current member of the executive committee of the board for the YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley.
Gipple lauds Helling
“I’m honored to take on the CEO role of our company following our annual meeting in May,” Mr. Gipple said in the release. “I have been fortunate to work with Larry since he joined QCR Holdings in 2001 when he founded Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company, and I have enjoyed working closely with him the past six years as he has led our company as CEO. It has been very rewarding to be a part of the company’s success the past 25 years.”
He added “I look forward to continuing that success by retaining our local community banking model that keeps us focused on exceeding the expectations of our clients, creating stronger communities, and sustaining our top-tier financial performance. This focus has served us well throughout the history of our company and has created long-term value for our shareholders.”
Mr. Anderson, who will become CFO, is an Illinois native and graduate of Western Illinois University. A certified public accountant, Mr. Anderson began his banking career as a teller while working his way through college. Since late 2019, he has served as QCR’s chief accounting officer, overseeing its internal and external financial reporting. He is actively involved in his community and serves as the vice president of Project Renewal of Davenport, Inc., which provides educational, recreational, and social activities for children.
“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Nick for over 20 years and I am fully confident that his transition into the chief financial officer role will be seamless,” Mr. Gipple said. “He has the trust of the board and the executive management team and will do an excellent job overseeing the financial responsibilities at the company while continuing to be an important part of communicating our successful story with shareholders and other constituencies.”
About QCR Holdings
QCR Holdings, Inc. is a multi-bank holding company serving the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Valley, Des Moines/Ankeny, and Springfield communities through its wholly owned subsidiary banks. The company has 36 locations in Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. As of Dec. 31, 2024, QCR had $9.0 billion in assets, $6.7 billion in loans, and $7.1 billion in deposit. For more visit www.qcrh.com.
