Home Economy Economic Activity McKee nominates Beacon Bank president as chairman of Life Science Hub

McKee nominates Beacon Bank president as chairman of Life Science Hub

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PBN Staff

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03/16/2026

sonoshead — WILLIAM C. TSONOS, president of Beacon Financial Corp. and former leader of BankRI, has been nominated to be the next chairman of the R.I. Life Science Hub. / COURTESY OF BEACON BANK

PROVIDENCE – William C. Tsonos, president of Beacon Financial Corp. and former leader of BankRI, has been nominated to be the next board chairman of the R.I. Life Science Hub. “Rhode Island is building momentum in the life science sector, and I believe Will is well-positioned to take it to the next level,” Gov. Daniel

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PROVIDENCE – William C. Tsonos, president of Beacon Financial Corp. and former leader of BankRI, has been nominated to be the next board chairman of the R.I. Life Science Hub. “Rhode Island is building momentum in the life science sector, and I believe Will is well-positioned to take it to the next level,” Gov. Daniel J. McKee announced Monday. “His leadership and business acumen will support the Life Science Hub’s mission to attract innovative technologies and bolster economic development in this critical industry.” Tsonos’ appointment needs to be confirmed by the Senate. Tsonos will succeed R.I. Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor, who stepped into the Life Science Hub role on an interim basis after inaugural Chairman Neil Steinberg stepped down on Oct. 1. McKee tapped Steinberg to serve as the quasi-public corporation’s board chairman in October 2023. He was approved to lead the hub’s 15-person board by the Senate in January 2024. Tsonos’ nomination also comes five days after inaugural CEO and President Mark A. Turco stepped down after a little more than a year of leading the agency on March 11. On March 9, Life Science Hub board named Lilia Holt, formerly the organization’s vice president, as its interim president. Tsonos has more than 30 years of banking experience. He manages $3.5 billion in assets and more than 200 employees as president of Beacon Bank. He previously worked as BankRI’s director of commercial banking and oversaw the bank’s commercial loan portfolio, commercial deposits, cash management department, as well as the business banking sales and underwriting teams. Tsonos has been a member of the R.I. Commerce Corp. board since May 2024. A Cumberland native and longtime Woonsocket resident, Tsonos has supported and served on the boards of numerous organizations, including Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln, United Way of Rhode Island, Potter League for Animals, Amos House, Back to School of Rhode Island and Read to Succeed. He is also a former board member, ambassador and government relations chair for the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce.