PASO ROBLES, Calif.–(GLOBE NEWSWIRE)–Heritage Oaks Bancorp (Nasdaq:HEOP) (the “Company”), parent company of Heritage Oaks Bank (the “Bank”), announced that effective Saturday, September 10, 2011, Simone Lagomarsino will become the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, subject to final regulatory approval or non-objection. Lagomarsino succeeds Lawrence P. Ward, whose retirement was previously announced and who will remain on the Company’s and Bank’s Board of Directors. Ms. Lagomarsino also will join both the Company’s and Bank’s board of directors. Lagomarsino comes to the post following 20 years in executive positions including president and CEO for Kinecta Federal Credit Union; CEO for Hawthorne Financial Corporation, CFO at Warner Center Bank, Ventura County National Bank, First Plus Bank, and Imperial Financial Group.
Michael J. Morris, Chairman of the Board for the Company and the Bank, said “Simone is the right leader to take us to the next level of our development. We are ecstatic to find a professional who has it all – impeccable experience, razor sharp knowledge and management skills and dedication to the precepts of community banking.”
“I am thrilled to be joining Heritage Oaks,” said Ms. Lagomarsino. “Community banking is part of the ‘fabric’ of our country and there has never been a better time for ‘back-to-basics’ banking that leads with service,” continued Ms. Lagomarsino. “Heritage Oaks is one of the leading community banks on the Central Coast of California and it is strategically positioned to grow market share and enhance franchise value,” Ms. Lagomarsino concluded.
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