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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

September 4, 2012

NEWBRIDGE BANCORP

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (336) 369-0900

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

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Executive Officer Compensation. On September 4, 2012, NewBridge Bancorp (the “Company”), its subsidiary, NewBridge Bank (the “Bank”) and Pressley A. Ridgill, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, executed an Employment and Change of Control Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”). The Employment Agreement, which becomes effective on January 1, 2013, will replace Mr. Ridgill’s existing employment agreement.

There follows a brief description of the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement. Unless defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meaning given them in the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated herein by reference.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Employment Agreement, for so long as the United States Department of the Treasury (“UST”) holds shares of preferred stock of the Company, purchased by the UST under the Capital Purchase Program implemented under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, certain restrictions will apply, as provided for in Appendix A to the Employment Agreement. These restrictions cause many of the provisions of the Employment Agreement to be without effect, with the consequence that Mr. Ridgill may not receive incentive compensation, golden parachute payments or severance payments, except as specifically allowed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and interim final rules promulgated thereunder by the UST. Further, Mr. Ridgill has waived and released any and all claims, actions and claims for release and causes of action he has or may have against the Company and the Bank arising thereunder, until such time as the Company and the Bank are no longer subject to these restrictions.

The Employment Agreement provides for Mr. Ridgill’s employment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, with duties and responsibilities as are customary for persons holding such executive offices of institutions that are a part of the financial institutions industry. Unless earlier terminated, the Employment Agreement has a term of three years beginning as of January 1, 2013 (the “Effective Date”) and ending as of December 31, 2015 (the “Employment Period”).

The Company and the Bank (together “NewBridge”) will pay Mr. Ridgill a base salary at the rate of at least $464,063 per year (“Base Salary”), less normal withholdings, payable in equal monthly or more frequent installments as are customary under the Bank’s payroll practices from time to time. The Bank shall review Mr. Ridgill’s total compensation at least annually and in its sole discretion may adjust Mr. Ridgill’s total compensation from year to year, but during the Employment Period, Mr. Ridgill’s Base Salary may not decrease below $464,063, and periodic increases in Base Salary, once granted, may not be revoked.

Mr. Ridgill shall be entitled to participate in all of NewBridge’s (i) executive management incentive plans, (ii) long-term incentive plans; and (iii) stock option, stock grant and similar plans, and in each of the foregoing cases any successor or substitute plans, and in at least as favorable a manner as any participant who is a member of NewBridge’s senior executive management.

Mr. Ridgill shall be entitled to participate in all savings, pension and retirement plans (including supplemental retirement plans), practices, policies and programs applicable generally to NewBridge’s senior executive employees (the “Benefit Plans”), on at least as favorable a basis as any other participant who is a member of NewBridge’s senior executive management.

Mr. Ridgill and/or Mr. Ridgill’s family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under all welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by NewBridge (including, without limitation, medical, hospitalization, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and dismemberment, and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to NewBridge’s senior executive employees (“Welfare Benefit Plans”).

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Mr. Ridgill shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by Mr. Ridgill in accordance with NewBridge’s policies, practices and procedures, to the extent applicable generally to NewBridge’s other senior executive employees.

Mr. Ridgill shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with NewBridge’s plans, practices, programs and policies in effect for their senior executive employees. In addition, Mr. Ridgill shall be entitled to an annual automobile allowance payment of $15,000, and the Employer shall pay the operating expenses of such automobile.

Mr. Ridgill shall be entitled annually to a minimum of 33 business days of paid vacation and shall be entitled to those number of business days of paid disability, sick and other leave specified in NewBridge’s employment policies. In addition, Mr. Ridgill shall receive up to five business days of paid leave to attend continuing education programs in order to maintain his status as a certified public accountant.

Mr. Ridgill’s employment with NewBridge shall terminate automatically upon Mr. Ridgill’s death. Otherwise, NewBridge may terminate Mr. Ridgill’s employment for Cause, Without Cause and/or if NewBridge determines in good faith that the Disability of Mr. Ridgill has occurred, after notice of such determination. Also, Mr. Ridgill may terminate his employment for Good Reason.

If NewBridge terminates Mr. Ridgill’s employment Without Cause, or Mr. Ridgill terminates his employment for Good Reason, in each case, other than in connection with a Change of Control, then in consideration of Mr. Ridgill’s services rendered prior to such Termination:

If Mr. Ridgill’s employment terminates by reason of his death, Mr. Ridgill’s legal representatives shall become entitled to the following: (i) Accrued Obligations shall be timely paid; (ii) Other Benefits shall be timely paid or provided; (iii) all stock options that are “incentive stock options” (“ISOs”), as described in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), previously granted to Mr. Ridgill that vested at or prior to the Date of Termination shall remain exercisable for the longer of 12 months and the exercise period in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination; (iv) all nonqualified stock options shall remain exercisable for the period of exercise in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination; (v) all options previously granted to Mr. Ridgill and scheduled to vest in the year of death shall immediately vest and be exercisable for the exercise period set forth in the applicable grants; and (vi) Mr. Ridgill’s rights to all benefits under all Benefit Plans that are “nonqualified” plans shall be 100% vested at the time of Mr. Ridgill’s death.

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If Mr. Ridgill’s employment is terminated by reason of his Disability, Mr. Ridgill shall only be entitled to the following: (i) Accrued Obligations shall be timely paid; (ii) Other Benefits shall be timely paid or provided; (iii) all options that are ISOs and that vested at or prior to the Date of Termination shall remain exercisable for the lesser of 12 months and the period of exercise in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination; (iv) all options previously granted and scheduled to vest in the year in which the Date of Termination occurs shall immediately vest and be exercisable (A) in the case of ISOs, for 12 months from the Date of Termination, and (B) in the case of nonqualified stock options, for the exercise period set forth in the applicable grant; (v) all other options that vested at or prior to the Date of Termination shall remain exercisable for the period of exercise in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination, and (vi) all restricted stock awards previously granted and scheduled to vest in the year in which the Date of Termination occurs shall immediately vest.

If Mr. Ridgill’s employment is terminated for Cause, Mr. Ridgill shall only be entitled to the following: (i) the Accrued Obligations shall be paid in a lump sum in cash on the 30^th day after the Date of Termination, and (ii) Other Benefits shall be paid or provided in a timely manner, provided, however, that Mr. Ridgill’s right to continue to participate in Welfare Benefit Plans shall terminate on the 30^th day following the Date of Termination, subject to his rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.

In the event that NewBridge terminates Mr. Ridgill’s employment Without Cause, or Mr. Ridgill terminates his employment for Good Reason, in any such case at the time of or within one year after a Change of Control, Mr. Ridgill shall be entitled to receive the following Change Of Control payments and benefits:

In the event that Mr. Ridgill violates the non-compete and/or non-solicit covenants, described below, no payments shall be due under paragraphs (B) and (C) above.

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During the Restricted Period, Mr. Ridgill shall not, within the geographic areas composed of the circles surrounding the Bank’s then-existing banking offices, with each circle having the applicable banking office as its center point and a radius of 25 miles (the “Territory”), directly or indirectly, in any capacity, render his services, or engage or have a financial interest in, any business that shall be competitive with any of those business activities in which NewBridge or any of NewBridge’s subsidiaries (the “NewBridge Group”) is engaged as of the date of the Employment Agreement, which business activities include the provision of banking services (collectively, the “Business”).

During the Restricted Period, within the Territory, Mr. Ridgill shall not, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other person or entity (other than NewBridge), offer to provide banking services to any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other entity who is or was (i) a customer of any member of the NewBridge Group during any part of the 12 month period immediately prior to the Date of Termination, or (ii) a potential customer to whom any member of the NewBridge Group offered to provide banking services during any part of the twelve month period immediately prior to the Date of Termination.

During the Restricted Period, within the Territory, Mr. Ridgill shall not, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit, recruit or entice, directly or indirectly, any employee of any member of the NewBridge Group to leave the employment of such member to work with Mr. Ridgill or with any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity with whom Mr. Ridgill is or becomes affiliated or associated.

The non-compete provisions shall not be operative upon, or be in any way enforceable against Mr. Ridgill at or after a termination by Mr. Ridgill for Good Reason; or a termination by NewBridge Without Cause if Mr. Ridgill returns and/or waives his right to receipt of continued benefits under the Employment Agreement (other than Accrued Benefits).

(e) A brief description of the material terms of Mr. Ridgill’s Employment Agreement is contained in Item 1.01, “Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement,” above, and is incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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