President and Chief Executive, Hope Bancorp Inc.

Kim’s latest employment agreement extends his leadership of the only super regional Korean American bank in the United States through March 2027. The company delivered an 83% increase in net income for 2021 and is off to a strong start in 2022 with record-breaking profits for its 2022 first quarter. Kim joined the Center Financial Corp.’s board in 2008. He led Center’s merger with Nara Bancorp in 2011, creating BBCN, and then the merger with Wilshire Bancorp in 2016, creating Bank of Hope. Kim serves on the Conference of State Bank Supervisors’ Bankers Advisory Board.

YEARS ON THE LA500: 7