Central Valley Community Bancorp in Fresno, California, has promoted Chief Operating Officer James Kim to succeed retiring CEO James Ford.
Ford has been CEO of Central Valley, the holding company for the $2.3 billion-asset Central Valley Community Bank, since February 2015. Ford was named president of Central Valley Bank in February 2014.
Daniel Doyle, Central Valley’s chairman, called Kim “an experienced leader with proven success in the financial services sector,” in a press release Monday. “James is highly regarded by our Company and an exceptional choice to be our next President and CEO.”
Kim, who will serve also as president and CEO of Central Valley Community Bank, joined Central Valley in January 2018 after 10 years at Auburn, California-based Community 1st Bancorp, including three years as CEO, from May 2014 to November 2017. As CEO, Kim presided over the $50 million sale of Community 1st to First Foundation, which closed in November 2017.
The 41-year-old Central Valley hired Kim as its chief administrative officer. It promoted him to chief operating officer in February 2019.
Ford announced his intent to
“I am proud to have served alongside so many talented executives and teammates whose commitment to our mission and core values is second to none,” Ford said in the press release.
In a research note Wednesday, Timothy Coffey, who covers Central Valley for Janney Montgomery Scott, called Kim the “best choice” to succeed Ford. “He is well-regarded and has prior experience as a CEO, chief financial officer and chief administrative officer.”
Kim is Central Valley Community’s fourth CEO. The others were Kim,
Central Valley reported net income of $15 million for the first six months of 2021, up 69% from the first half of 2020.
