Great Western Bancorp Executive Vice President and Regional President Doug Bass will assume the role of president and chief operating officer. The bank conducted an extensive, nationwide search to fill the position.
Bass will be based in Sioux Falls, SD and report to Chairman and CEO Ken Karels, who will continue to lead the company but shift focus towards long-term strategy, business expansion, acquisition activities, board governance and regulatory relations.
In his new role, Bass will be responsible for implementing technological and strategic initiatives, overall loan and deposit growth, de novo office expansion, operating efficiency and people and culture.
“Doug is a strong leader who understands the importance we have placed on our culture and values,” said Karels. “He is highly qualified for these new responsibilities and will continue our tradition of investing in our communities and our mission to make life great for our employees, customers and shareholders.”
Bass has more than 36 years of banking experience and has worked in various capacities with Great Western Bank since 2009, serving in his current role since 2010. Before joining Great Western, he served as president of First American Bank Group. Bass also served in various capacities over 15 years with Firstar (now U.S. Bank), including as president and CEO of Firstar’s Sioux City and Council Bluffs operations in western Iowa and as manager of Correspondent Banking for its eastern Iowa operations, which included responsibility for commercial banking and agribusiness lending.
