Management Team

David R. Morris. Mr. Morris has served as a Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank. Prior to his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2022, Mr. Morris has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank since February 2010 and of the Company since 2011. He serves on our Board’s asset/liability committee, information technology and security committee, community reinvestment act committee, and a non-voting member of the Directors’ Loan Committee. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Morris was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Metro Pacific Bank from August 2007 to June 2009, and its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operations Officer from October 2006 to July 2007. He was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operations Officer of San Diego Community Bank from June 2003 to September 2006, the Vice President and Controller of Community National Bank from 1999 to 2003, the Vice President and Manager of participant accounting at City National Bank (formerly North American Trust Company) in 1999, its Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Risk Management Officer and Director from 1997 to 1998, and its Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer from 1991 to 1996. Mr. Morris started his career with First Interstate Bank, Ltd. in 1986 followed with being controller for Banker’s Trust Company of California, a subsidiary of Banker’s Trust Company. Mr. Morris holds a B.S. from University of Maryland and an M.B.A. from University of Southern California. Mr. Morris is on the Economic Development Commission for the City of Oceanside, is on the Board for California State University, Fullerton, Entrepreneurship Program, and Zeta Psi Educational Foundation.

Johnny Lee. Mr. Lee joined the Bank in June 2023 as President and Chief Banking Officer. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Lee was the Senior Managing Director and Head of International and Commercial Banking at East West Bank where he headed a group of 155 professionals, oversaw a portfolio of nearly $7.0 billion in outstanding commercial loans and $4.5 billion in deposits. He had been with East West Bank for 10 years from May 2013 to June 2023. Before East West Bank, Mr. Lee was with CTBC Bank (previously known as China Trust Bank) as EVP and Head of Corporate Banking/C&I for nearly 5 years, from October 2008 to May 2013. He was a member of the Executive Committee and oversaw all C&I/commercial lending across the U.S. Prior to CTBC Bank, Mr. Lee spent more than 4 years with United Commercial Bank as SVP and Head of its Technology Banking Group from February 2004 to October 2008. He founded and built its specialized industry platform which provided venture debt and banking services to emerging technology companies and venture capital firms. Mr. Lee started his banking career with General Bank in May 1990 as a Management Trainee and served in various expanded roles during his 14 years tenure there, including its post-merger with Cathay Bank. He headed the Northern California Region as SVP and Regional Manager which oversaw all commercial lending, including the Technology Lending Division, and all branches. Mr. Lee holds a B.A. from Willamette University and a M.I.M. from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

I-Ming (Vincent) Liu. Mr. Liu has been an executive officer since the founding of the Bank in 2008 and of the Company since 2011. He started at the Bank as Executive Vice President and Branch Administrator and was promoted to Chief Operations Officer in February 2011, and to Chief Risk Officer in January 2014. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Liu spent over six years with United Commercial Bank as Senior Vice President and head of Southern California branch network. Prior to joining United Commercial Bank, Mr. Liu spent over 18 years with General Bank as a regional manager. Mr. Liu holds a B.A. from Feng-Chia University. 

Jeffrey Yeh. Mr. Yeh has been an executive officer since the founding of the Bank in 2008 and of the Company since 2011. He started at the Bank as Vice President and Portfolio Administration Manager and was promoted to Senior Vice President and acting Chief Credit Officer in January 2013, and to Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer in January 2014. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Yeh was a finance director and business control manager for Universal Science Industrial Co., Ltd. from 2001 through 2003, director and general manager of Overseas Chinese Finance, Ltd. from 1999 through 2001, and lending and investment manager for Bank of Overseas Chinese from 1995 through 1999. Mr. Yeh began his banking career at General Bank where he held various positions from 1989 through 1995. Mr. Yeh holds a B.A. from Soochow University and an M.B.A. from University of Missouri. 

Tsu Te Huang. Mr. Huang joined our Bank in 2009 as Senior Vice President and Branch Regional Manager and was promoted to Branch Administrator in 2012, and to Executive Vice President in 2016. Mr. Huang previously served as a Senior Vice President and Branch Assistant Regional Manager for United Commercial Bank, Southern California from 2003 to 2009, a Senior Vice President and Branch Regional Manager for First Continental Bank from 2000 to 2003, and as a Vice President and Branch Manager for First Continental Bank from 1994 to 2000. Mr. Huang holds a B.A. from Chinese Culture University. 

Ashley Chang. Ms. Chang joined our Bank in 2009 as a Vice President and Branch Manager. She was promoted to First Vice President and Regional Manager in 2014, to Senior Vice President and Assistant Branch Administrator in 2017, and to Branch Administrator in 2019, and Executive Vice President and Branch Administrator in 2021. Ms. Chang previously served as Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for United Commercial Bank, Southern California from 2003 to 2009. Prior to that, Ms. Chang also worked for First Continental Bank and Los Angeles National Bank. Ms. Chang holds a B.A. from Shanghai Normal University.

Gary Fan. Gary Fan serves as an Executive Officer and Chief Administrative Officer in the Administrative Department. Gary is responsible for identifying and executing growth opportunities, leading digital banking initiatives, managing products and services, driving merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, divestments and divestures, evaluating market conditions and long-term trends, collecting competitive intelligence, driving cross-functional business processes and maintaining business model innovation. Gary was previously President of Gateway Bank FSB in Oakland, CA. Prior to that position, Gary worked as President of a fintech company as well as senior management roles in operations and lending at CTBC Bank. Prior to banking, Gary served in a variety of senior leadership roles in a variety of industries including: manufacturing, supply chain logistics, e-commerce, and financial services. Gary graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Berkeley. He is also a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania.

Alex Ko. Mr. Ko is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank since March 2023. Mr. Ko’s responsibility includes corporate strategic planning, financial reporting, merger and acquisition, treasury, investments, and investor relations. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Ko was Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bank of Hope. Prior to Bank of Hope, Mr. Ko was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wilshire Bank, which was subsequently merged with BBCN Bank to create Bank of Hope in 2016. Prior to Wilshire Bank, Mr. Ko was an accounting processional at KPMG, LLP for 12 years. Mr. Ko earned B.A. from Yonsei University and M.A. in Accounting from University of Southern California.