Associated Bank Appoints Neil Riegelman as Milwaukee President on April 1
Associated Banc-Corp appointed Neil Riegelman as Milwaukee market president effective April 1, succeeding John Utz who will focus on the bank’s national specialty businesses. Riegelman, a University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh graduate who joined in October 2023, led record commercial lending growth in 2025 after the bank reached $45 billion in assets.
1. Leadership Transition
Effective April 1, Neil Riegelman will assume the role of Milwaukee market president, succeeding John Utz who will dedicate his efforts to scaling the bank’s national specialty businesses and specialized industries.
2. Succession Strategy
John Utz, Milwaukee market president since 2015, transformed the region’s presence by expanding commercial and corporate banking and reshaping the brand into a full-service financial partner before moving to focus solely on specialty verticals.
3. Commercial Growth Context
Riegelman joined Associated Banc-Corp in October 2023 to lead commercial banking strategy; the division posted its strongest bottom line and record commercial lending in 2025 within a $45 billion asset framework.