Union Bank announced that senior executive vice president and Commercial Banking Group head Robert C. Dawson will retire effective July 15, 2013, after a highly successful 28 years with the company. Dawson will continue to serve as an advisor to president and chief executive officer Masashi Oka through June 2014.

In addition to leading the bank’s commercial lending activities, Dawson retires as a member of Union Bank’s Executive Committee, the policy-making arm of the company comprised of key officers selected by the CEO to drive the bank’s strategy, financial direction and risk profile.

Dawson was named head of commercial banking in 2006 and has been accountable for all of the bank’s commercial lending activities. These have comprised both general commercial lending and various specialized lending niche businesses including energy, national banking, entertainment finance, commercial finance and technology finance.

“Bob and his group have been a significant and consistent contributor to the bank’s growth in earnings over the years,” said Oka. “He has built a strong management team that will build upon this success in the years to come. We will miss his expertise and commitment, and especially his strengths as a leader. I’m glad he’ll be assisting me in the coming months as he transitions to retirement.”

Prior to his most recent position, Dawson served in a variety of managerial roles for Union Bank including capital markets, communication, media and telecom, national banking and insurance finance.

He joined Union Bank in 1985 after starting his career with International Paper Company in New York City.

“It has been an honor to work at a company with such a stellar reputation in the commercial banking industry,” said Dawson. “I am always proud to say I work for Union Bank and I fully expect that tradition to continue long after I retire as the company remains committed to recruiting and retaining some of the best bankers in the country.”