Melanie J. Dressel, president and CEO of Columbia Bank, announced that Hadley Robbins, SVP and Oregon Group manager, has been appointed EVP and COO for Columbia Bank and its parent, Columbia Banking System Inc., effective March 1, 2014. Robbins fills the COO position vacated by Mark W. Nelson, who retired in September, 2013.

Robbins will direct the majority of the bank’s customer-facing business lines, which include Commercial Banking, Retail Banking and Wealth Management, as well as other supporting functions. He was selected following an extensive national search.

Dressel commented, “Hadley has a proven management track record in a wide spectrum of business line responsibilities. We are delighted he is joining our executive team, bringing with him a deep and diverse commercial banking and credit administration background.”

Robbins, 57, joined Columbia on April 1, 2013, with the merger of West Coast Bancorp, where he had served as EVP & chief credit officer since 2007. His experience spans more than 25 years and includes a variety of executive positions with Wells Fargo Bank, Pacific Northwest Bank, Bank of the Northwest and First Interstate Bank.

Robbins is serving on the board and executive committee for the Freshwater Trust and on the Oregon Bankers Association board of directors. His past activities have included the Downtown Portland Rotary Club and the Portland Crime Commission.