The wealth management group of The Provident Bank, the New Jersey based bank, has appointed Alan Segars as vice president and investment management officer. This hire, the bank said, underlines its commitment to expanding its wealth management services.

Mr Segars is based at Provident’s Madison branch. Leading and managing the investment policy, he will focus on asset allocation strategies that align products with client risk-return preferences, as well as making investment recommendations and implementing the group’s strategic plan.

Prior to joining Provident, he was managing director and senior equity portfolio manager at ING Investment Management Company, after having also been a senior fixed-income portfolio manager at the firm.

He has also previously been managing partner with Grigsby Branford Capital Partners, as well as head of fixed-income management for Bank of New York.

The Provide Bank has 84 offices throughout northern and central New Jersey, reporting $4.7 billion in deposits. The firm is a subsidiary of Provident Financial Services.