The Camden National Corporation Board of Directors announced on Monday, May 1 the appointment of Craig N. Denekas of the Libra Foundation as an independent director of the firm effective immediately.
“We are delighted that Craig is joining the Camden National Corp.’s board of directors with his extraordinary experience and legal expertise,” said Karen W. Stanley, chair of the board of directors of the company and Camden National Bank, the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary. “His diverse set of experiences, from years as a practicing attorney to nonprofit leadership, as well as insights gained from countless appointments on various boards locally and nationwide, make Craig a great addition to our team.”
Currently, Denekas serves as trustee, chairman, and chief executive officer of the Libra Foundation. Based out of Portland, this private grant-making charitable foundation embraces the sense of proportion and fairness defined by its name, Libra, to fulfill its mission of maintaining a balance and diversity of giving throughout the state of Maine and across all populations. In addition to traditional grant-making that exceeds $175 million, the foundation takes an innovative approach to its investing by establishing or acquiring several companies, such as Pineland Farms of New Gloucester, to create sustainable businesses and employment opportunities for Maine citizens.
Prior to joining the Libra Foundation in 2001 and serving in multiple leadership positions before his appointment as chief executive officer, Denekas was a director and shareholder at the law firm of Perkins Thompson in Portland for more than a decade. While at the firm, Denekas focused on corporate acquisitions, business law, real estate, and commercial lending. He has served as a trustee and on various boards of directors including the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in Florida and the Fisher Charitable Foundation in Maine, and he was past chairman of the Maine Public Broadcasting Board of Trustees.
“I have always admired Camden National for their commitment to customers and the communities they serve,” said Denekas. “This is an exciting time to join the organization as they continue to grow their presence in the region and introduce innovative technologies to complement their personal banking experience for customers and businesses. I have tremendous respect for the executive leadership and board members, and I look forward to working with them.”
