---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000943374-23-000477"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FISI"
cik: "0000862831"
company_name: "FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC"
filed_at: "2023-12-08T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T15:55:58.562116+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Financial Institutions announces leadership realignment, workforce reduction of 3.4%, targeting $6M in annual savings

## Summary
- Sean Willett (EVP, CAO) resigning to become CEO of another bank; remains through Dec 31, 2023.
- Justin Bigham (EVP, Chief Community Banking) resigns; receives $250,000 severance lump sum.
- Reid Whiting promoted to new Chief Banking Officer; Blake Jones added to executive leadership team.
- COO, product, tech areas move under CFO Plants; risk head Pacos oversees credit; HR head Collins takes training.
- Restructuring reduces workforce by ~3.4% and targets $6M annual noninterest expense savings.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000943374-23-000477
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FISI
- cik: 0000862831
- company_name: FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC
- filed_at: 2023-12-08T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/862831/000094337423000477/0000943374-23-000477-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/862831/000094337423000477/form8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000943374-23-000477
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000943374-23-000477.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000943374-23-000477.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Justin K. Bigham resigned as Executive Vice President and Chief Community Banking Officer at FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Executive Vice President and Chief Community Banking Officer
  source text: announced the resignations of Sean M. Willet, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, and Justin K. Bigham, Executive Vice President and Chief Community Banking Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/862831/000094337423000477/0000943374-23-000477-index.htm
- Executive change
  Sean M. Willet resigned as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
  source text: announced the resignations of Sean M. Willet, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, and Justin K. Bigham, Executive Vice President and Chief Community Banking Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/862831/000094337423000477/0000943374-23-000477-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.