Mike Gampp

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Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

Mike Gampp has resigned as president of American Savings Bank.

“I just chose to resign. I wanted to go in a different direction. I just wanted to take a different career path. I’m still involved with the bank,” Gampp said from his office in the former Portsmouth Emporium building. “I’m still in a role of helping them out while they decide what they are going to do as far as finding a successor. But I’m still working with them. I’m doing consulting work.”

Former ASB president and current chairman of the board, Bob Smith has again assumed the duties as president on what looks to be an interim basis.

“I’m here for as long as it takes,” Smith said. “We’ll be having a strategic plan coming up, and I will constantly be on the lookout for a replacement. But I’m in no big hurry to leave. I could be here a year, hopefully not longer than that, but I could be.”

Smith lives in Florida in the winter and returns in the spring to Portsmouth.

“I’d just as soon work. I love my job,” Smith said. “But, in the winter time, when the snow starts flying, I’d like to be back in Florida.”

Smith agreed with Gampp’s statement that he simply resigned from the job.

“That is exactly what happened,” Smith said. “It surprised me. He had been here for 14 years, and he just said, ‘Bob, I don’t want to do it anymore.’”

Both said they had heard rumors about the reason Gampp is no longer president, but said none of the rumors are true.

“I’m 44 years old and looking ahead over the next 20-30 years, I enjoy working, but I just didn’t enjoy that,” Gampp said. “I’m sitting in my office, and I’m working right now. I know, at least until the end of the year I’m still working with American Savings Bank helping them to do some different things. Once they find a replacement and decide what they want to do, I’m going to help in the transition, and still be available,” Gampp said.

Smith agreed with Gampp’s new role.

“He is going to be consulting for the bank for at least the next six months,” Smith said. “We have signed a contract for that. So he’ll do some of the detail work for us. He just didn’t want to be president.”

Gampp said he intends to stay involved in programs within the community. He has been a regular at the Thursday morning gathering of business, government and community leaders at the Holiday Inn in Portsmouth.

“I’m still around town. I’m still involved in things. I still have an interest in Portsmouth,” Gampp said. “None of that has changed.”

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Frank on Twitter @FrankLewisPDT.