Green Bay, Wis.–based Nicolet Bankshares Chair, President and CEO Mike Daniels will continue leading the company through the end of 2030..Nicolet’s board recently approved an equity award for Daniels of up to $12 million, consisting of 30,000 restricted shares that vest at the end of 2030 and up to 60,000 performance-based restricted stock units tied to return on assets and cumulative earnings per share over a five-year period beginning in 2026.Daniels, who co-founded Nicolet in 2000 with Bob Atwell, is credited with playing a crucial role in growing the bank into a $9 billion-asset financial institution and one of the top performers among its peers. Over his 25-year career with the company, Daniels has overseen every functional area, becoming president and CEO of Nicolet Bank in 2016 and president and CEO of Nicolet Bankshares in 2021. He added chair responsibilities in 2024.The board said extending Daniels’ leadership provides stability and positions the bank to capitalize on near-term opportunities while building long-term value. “Combining this talent with the value of having an entrepreneurial co-founder leading the organization will allow Nicolet to best capitalize on near-term opportunities, while continuing to grow and create shared success,” the board said in its announcement.
