David P. Malone, president and chief operating officer of Bank of Hope, plans to retire on Dec. 31. Malone will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors of Bank of Hope and its holding company, Hope Bancorp. Bank of Hope promoted Peter Koh to senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1.
In connection with the retirement of Malone, Kevin S. Kim, who is currently the chairman, president and CEO of Hope Bancorp and chairman and CEO of Bank of Hope, will re-assume the role of president of the bank. Previously, Kim served as president and CEO of the company and bank from July 29, 2016, to July 1, 2019, when Malone became president of the bank.
“We thank David Malone for his leadership at Bank of Hope since 2017 and congratulate him on his decorated banking career over the past five decades,” Kim said. “I also congratulate Peter Koh on his promotion and look forward to working closely with him as we continue to build upon the strong heritage of Bank of Hope as one of the leading Asian American banks in the nation.”
Koh transitioned to executive vice president and deputy chief operating officer in April from executive vice president and chief credit officer, taking on broader responsibilities in the overall management of the bank. Upon the merger of equals creating Bank of Hope on July 29, 2016, Koh was named chief credit officer of Bank of Hope and was responsible for oversight of all credit administration functions, as well as the appraisal and special assets departments. Previously, he served in the same capacity for Wilshire Bank, a position he was promoted to in July 2014.
