Hope Bancorp appointed David P. Malone as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of its wholly owned subsidiary Bank of Hope, effective May 15, 2017.

Malone will report to President and CEO Kevin S. Kim and be responsible for overseeing all support and administrative units of the bank.

Previously, Malone served as chairman of the board of the bank from June 26, 2014 up until the closing of the merger with Wilshire Bank. Prior to joining the company, Malone completed a 15-year tenure at Community Bank in Pasadena, CA, where he served as chairman in 2013, president and CEO from 2008 to 2013, and COO & CFO from 1998 to 2008. Prior to Community Bank, Malone served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Metrobank and Merchant Bank of California.

“David Malone is recognized as one of the most accomplished bankers in Southern California, but more importantly, he has been a tremendous asset to the board during the most transformative phase of growth for the Bank,” Kim said. “We look forward to his valued contributions as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities as the only super regional Korean-American bank in the U.S.”