President, Chief Executive
Hope Bancorp

Kim has been at the helm of the Korean American regional Hope Bancorp for more than a decade, overseeing its management of over $19 billion as chief executive, president and chairman of its board of directors. Kim was a director of Center Financial Corp and Center Bank and spearheaded these institutions’ merger with Nara Bancorp in 2011 to create BBCN. Subsequently, BBCN merged with Wilshire Bancorp to create the Bank of Hope. This year, the bank is expected to merge with the Hawaii-based Territorial Bancorp. Kim serves on the Bankers Advisory Board of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors.

YEARS ON LA500: 9