John Brown, the chairman and executive vice president of Bank Forward, has been named Executive Vice President of the Independent Community Banks of North Dakota. The ICBND board of directors made the announcement this morning; Brown’s first day on the job will be June 1.

Brown began a banking career 36 years ago at the bank owned by his family, Security State Bank in Hannaford, N.D.. Today, the bank is part of the Bank Forward organization, which has 17 offices throughout North Dakota and northern Minnesota. Brown was president of the ICBND in 1985. He also has served on the North Dakota State Banking Board and on the board of the Bank Holding Company Association.

The top leadership post of the association has been vacant since Don Forsberg left the association suddenly earlier this year after a decade of service. In addition to its membership and advocacy roles, ICBND operates a purchasing exchange and a credit card operation.