Joseph Lebel III will become president of OceanFirst Financial Corp., assuming the responsibilities from Christopher Maher, who will remain chairman and CEO. Lebel will also join the board of directors, with both changes becoming effective Jan. 1. Lebel has been with the bank for 14 years and also serves as chief operating officer. In addition to his current duties for all operating regions, business lines and back office operations, Lebel will now assume responsibility for the commercial credit function with the chief credit officer and credit administration department also reporting to him. Lebel joined OceanFirst in 2006 after a 25-year career at multiple predecessors to what is now Wells Fargo & Co. He spent the first 10 years of his tenure as chief lending officer, then two years as chief banking officer and two years as chief operating officer.