John E.

Benz
715 Old Mill Road, E20
Wyomissing, PA 19610
610-223-0691
jb776e26@westpost.net

CAREER SUMMARY
Attorney/MBA with extensive experience in corporate, regulatory, commercial, and
general business law and transactions. Skilled at handling unique and diverse
assignments. Daily responsibilities involve corporate transactions, compliance/
risk management, litigation management, and regulatory transactions and reportin
g. Interact extensively with Board of Directors, executive management, and regu
latory agencies.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Kadent Corporation-Wyomissing, PA
Current
A national accounts management/recovery company
General Counsel/Legal Network Manager
Developed and manage multi-state in-house Legal Department
Draft and implement corporate policies and procedures
Manage retained counsel and corporate litigation
Negotiate settlements, draft related agreements
Process corporate transactions
Oversee regulatory compliance and multi-state licensing
Negotiate leases and real estate transactions

Sovereign Bancorp-Wyomissing, PA
1999-2009
A major regional bank holding company
Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer/Assistant Secretary
* Developed and implemented comprehensive compliance/risk management program
* Coordinated preparation of corporate SEC filings (8-K, 10-Q, 10-K, DEF 14A)
* Managed responses to regulatory examinations
* Acted as liaison with federal and state regulatory agencies
* Monitored executive officer and Director securities transactions, prepared and
filed SEC Forms 3, 4, and 5
* Incorporated, divested, and merged subsidiaries
* Counsel/Secretary of numerous subsidiaries
* Member, merger and acquisition due diligence task force
National City Corporation-Pittsburgh, PA
1996-1999
A Midwestern bank holding company
Vice President/Staff Attorney/Assistant Secretary
* Processed regulatory applications to facilitate mergers and acquisitions
* Negotiated and documented complex commercial transactions
* Monitored litigation, prepared and presented status reports to Board
* Conducted merger and acquisition due diligence
* Negotiated and documented the acquisition and divestiture of business units an
d subsidiaries
* Counsel/Secretary of numerous subsidiaries
* Negotiated, reviewed and documented vendor contracts
* Legal Department representative, acquisition integration team

Integra Financial Corporation-Pittsburgh, PA

1982-1996
A regional bank holding company; acquired by National City Corporation in 19
96
Counsel/Assistant Secretary
* Advised senior management concerning acquisition and divestiture of business u
nits
* Managed legal and regulatory aspects of numerous mergers and acquisitions
* Managed compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements
* Served as primary legal advisor to Human Resources and Corporate Trust Departm
ents
* Monitored significant litigation and processed routine litigation

EDUCATION
JD (Business Law)-University of Pittsburgh School of Law
1980
MBA (Finance)-University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business
1977
BA (Economics)-Lehigh University
1976
Other-University of Bath, Bath, England
1975
Master Planner Certification (municipal planning)-Center For
Community Leadership, Albright College
2008

ASSOCIATIONS
Planning Commission (Member)-Borough of Wyomissing, PA
Park and Shade Tree Commission (Member)-Borough of Wyomissing, PA
Pennsylvania and Berks County Bar Associations (Member)
Wills For Heroes Foundation and Get Help Now Pennsylvania (Volunteer)