Wells Fargo announced that Southern California Lead Region President John Sotoodeh will head Wells Fargo’s Southwest region. He succeeds Paul W. “Chip” Carlisle, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Sotoodeh will relocate to the company’s Southwest region headquarters in Houston before the end of the year.

Sotoodeh is a 24-year company veteran, who started his career as a teller. He currently leads Community Banking in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. His new area of responsibility will cover Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico, with 780 banking stores, and more than 9,800 team members.

“I am thrilled for the team, our customers and the community that John will lead our operations here,” Carlisle said. “I have worked with John for many years and know firsthand what a strong and committed leader he is. John will be a terrific asset to this team and the entire community.”

Carlisle, who served as the lead executive for the Southwest Region, is retiring after a banking career that spanned four decades. He became president of the Texas Region in 2004 and was appointed to his current duties in 2011.