Civista Bancshares, Inc. announced that, effective December 31, 2017, James O. Miller will retire as an employee and relinquish his positions as chief executive officer and president of the company and as chief executive officer of its banking subsidiary, Civista Bank. Mr. Miller will continue as chairman of the boards of directors of the company and the Bank in the capacity of a non-employee director. Because Dennis E. Murray, Jr. will continue in his capacity as lead independent director, the leadership structure of the boards of directors will not change.

As chairman, Mr. Miller's future responsibilities will include assisting in strategic and financial planning, acting as a liaison between the boards and management, providing counsel and guidance to his successor and participating in the Bank's lending decisions. Dennis G. Shaffer, who is currently executive vice president of the company and president of the Bank, is expected to replace Mr. Miller in his current executive positions as chief executive officer of the company and its banking subsidiary. Dennis G. Shaffer has been employed by the Bank since 2009 and has been its president since April, 2014.

Before that he held several roles, including chief lending officer. Shaffer has more than 32 years of banking experience, beginning his career in 1985 at the Ohio Bank in Columbus, Ohio. Shaffer actively serves in various leadership roles in civic and charitable organizations.

He serves as a member of the board and the executive committee of the Erie County Chamber of Commerce. He is a board member of the Cancer Support Community of Central Ohio and a past member of the Foundation and Finance Board of the Buckeye Ranch.