Busey Names Michael Peluso General Counsel

 

First Busey Corporation (FBC), the financial holding company of Busey Bank, announced that Michael Peluso, Deputy General Counsel for FBC and Busey Bank, has been appointed as General Counsel, succeeding long-time General Counsel John Powers following his retirement from the position. Peluso has also succeeded Powers as FBC corporate secretary and as a member of the company’s executive leadership team.

 

“Promoting Mike is the culmination of a deliberate, long-term succession plan for this vital role,” said Van Dukeman, FBC Chairman and CEO. “He has been instrumental in shaping our legal strategy and partnering with our executive leadership team to achieve the company’s strategic objectives during his 11-plus years with Busey. With his extensive understanding of our business operations and over 16 years of financial services legal experience, we have every confidence that he will do a fantastic job and provide outstanding legal and strategic leadership in this role.”

 

Peluso joined Busey in 2015, working closely with Powers for the last 11 years to provide oversight, strategic counsel and legal risk management to FBC and Busey Bank. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, Peluso earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School, where he graduated with honors, Order of the Coif. Prior to joining Busey, Peluso began his legal career at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago. There, Peluso practiced in the Global Finance group, representing international financial institutions, investment funds and corporations in connection with a wide range of complex and structurally diverse commercial finance transactions.  

 

Powers will remain with the company as Senior Counsel. In this role, he will work on certain projects and help to ensure a seamless transition of duties to Peluso. He joined Busey in 2011 and will retire next year after more than 45 years practicing law, including having previously served as a shareholder in the law firm Meyer Capel, where he specialized in the financial services industry.

 

“We are grateful for the dedicated years of service John provided as General Counsel, including his expert guidance during a time of significant growth for the company,” Dukeman said. “The board joins me in thanking John for his many contributions, and we are pleased that he will continue to lend his valuable expertise as Senior Counsel.”