Banc of California promoted several leaders in community banking, including elevating Chris Baron to president of community banking to oversee its five regions in California and Colorado along with its national asset-based lending business finance team. In addition, the bank promoted Brian Ishida to president of the Los Angeles region and Chris Erickson to the newly created position of president of the Colorado region.
Baron has more than two decades of commercial banking experience and previously served as president of the bank’s Los Angeles region. He will succeed Chris Blake, who is remaining with the company during this planned transition.
Baron is based in Beverly Hills, CA, and reports to Hamid Hussain, president of Banc of California. Baron also sits on the board of Good Shepherd Catholic School in Beverly Hills, where he is chair of the finance committee. In addition, he sits on the BANC Foundation board for Banc of California.
Ishida is succeeding Baron and will oversee commercial banking functions in Los Angeles County, including lending teams in downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Century City, Encino, Warner Center, West Los Angeles and the South Bay. Previously, Ishida was executive vice president and regional manager for the bank, a role he held since 2017. He is based in downtown Los Angeles and will report to Baron.
Based in Denver, Erickson will report to Baron. Prior to joining Banc of California through the merger with PacWest Bancorp, Erickson led the commercial real estate banking team in the Denver area for Pacific Western Bank, covering the greater Rocky Mountain region. Erickson is also on the board of Developmental Pathways, which supports individuals with disabilities and their families in Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Elbert counties in Colorado.
“These key promotions will allow us to continue serving our clients at the highest level,” Hussain said. “Banc of California is known for its customized banking solutions and superior client service, and I’m certain that these leaders and their teams will continue to build upon our reputation for helping clients to reach their business and financial goals.”
