WesBanco Inc. Elevates Richard Laws as Chief Legal Counsel Enhancing Strategic Leadership

WesBanco Inc. Announces Richard Laws as Chief Legal Counsel

WHEELING, W.Va., August 14, 2025 - WesBanco, Inc. (Nasdaq: WSBC) has made a significant move in its leadership structure by appointing Richard Laws as the new Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, effective August 18, 2025. This strategic decision is expected to enhance not only the legal framework but also the operational efficiency of the bank as it continues to expand its services across multiple states.

Richard Laws joins WesBanco with over 25 years of extensive legal experience. His career spans both private and in-house practices, enabling him to bring a wealth of knowledge to his new role. He will lead the legal department, providing essential strategic advice to the executive team and the Board of Directors. Laws will oversee the development and execution of the company’s legal strategy, manage day-to-day legal operations, and coordinate with external legal counsel to ensure alignment with business objectives.

Jeff Jackson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco, expressed confidence in Laws’s ability to lead the bank’s legal initiatives. "Bringing legal leadership in-house is a significant strategic evolution for WesBanco, and we are confident Rich is the right leader to build a legal function that will grow with us," Jackson stated.

Laws’s background includes his most recent position as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Northwest Bank, a financial institution with assets totaling $16 billion. In that role, he was responsible for all legal activities, advising on critical areas such as corporate governance, compliance, and mergers and acquisitions. His leadership in managing external counsel and legal support across various banking services has positioned him as a strong candidate for this role at WesBanco.

Laws expressed his enthusiasm for joining WesBanco, stating, "I'm excited to step into the role of Chief Legal Counsel and continue building on WesBanco's strong legacy of success. The bank’s commitment to helping people, businesses, and communities thrive resonates deeply with me. I look forward to creating a best-in-class legal department that supports that vision."

In addition to his corporate legal experience, Richard Laws has also been involved in academia as an adjunct professor at Penn State Law, where he taught courses on legal ethics and the evolving responsibilities of in-house counsel. He earned his law degree from Widener University School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree from Juniata College. He will be based at WesBanco’s headquarters in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Laws’s appointment coincides with WesBanco’s recent acquisition of Premier Financial Corp. This strategic transformation is aimed at broadening the bank's reach and capabilities. As WesBanco continues to grow in scale and complexity, having experienced in-house legal leadership underscores the company’s dedication to building the necessary infrastructure for long-term success.

Furthermore, WesBanco is consistently recognized for its excellence, receiving accolades such as Forbes’ Most Trusted Companies and Newsweek’s America's Best Regional Banks. With over 150 years in the financial services industry, WesBanco is committed to delivering personalized banking solutions, trust, brokerage, and wealth management services to its diverse customer base across an eight-state footprint.

Laws’s leadership is expected to be instrumental as WesBanco cultivates its extensive legal infrastructure, ensuring that it continues to uphold its principles of trust and quality service in a dynamic banking environment. To learn more about WesBanco and follow the developments, visit WesBanco's website and connect on social platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.