DAVID MACDONALD

Regional President, Commercial Banking, West Coast Region

Woodforest National Bank

David Macdonald heads Woodforest National Bank’s commercial banking team covering the West Coast region. The downtown Los Angeles-based team focus provides lending, cash management and other commercial banking services to middle market companies and large corporations with annual revenues of more than $50 million. The U.K.- born Macdonald started his career at HSBC, before joining the bank of Scotland, a division of Lloyds Banking Group, where he specialized in financing management buyouts and leveraged acquisitions before moving to the United States to continue working for the bank. Ultimately he led Lloyds’ $15 billion U.S. corporate banking portfolio before first rejoining HSBC Bank USA in Southern California, and then the commercial lending team at Boston Private Bank. He joined WNB in 2010.

What was your proudest moment?

I am tremendously proud of many things we have achieved in our WNB business, though I think it’s the personal moments in our lives that influence us the most. For me, it is without doubt being lucky enough to see our children develop & grow into being such wonderful adults – our son recently graduated San Marino High School, and our daughter 3 years prior. The moments in family life like those stand the test of time above all others, and will always be cherished and appreciated.

What is your alma mater?

I was very fortunate to win a scholarship through Midland Bank (now HSBC) to attend Loughborough University in the U.K..

What is your next project?

I set up our WNB Commercial Banking team in L.A. about two years ago. I’m a builder, and I’ll continue growing the business. That may include additional team members in L.A., and possibly other locations within the West Coast footprint. I never want to stand still, I always have a plan. My wife says that I should relax more, that I am always talking about 100 ideas at once, but that’s just who I am, and I thrive on those challenges.

Who is your hero?

I reflect almost every day about the exemplary personal standards that I saw in my grandfather, my father, and my uncle. My grandfather was an inspector for a major U.K. insurance company, my father was the head of several large farming estates, and my uncle was a tremendous business development manager. What I learnt from them helped me get where I am today.

What do you like best about Los Angeles?

I came to the U.S. about 15 years ago, and worked in New York for a year, traveling across the US on regional bank business. When I visited L.A., the vast opportunity and scale, and the entrepreneurial attitude of almost everyone I met were infectious. I’ve been here for over 14 years now, I love being here, and I am extremely grateful for that opportunity. As a child, I had a simple life on a small dairy farm, I have to pinch myself sometimes!