IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Opus Bank (“Opus”) announced today that Jennifer “Jenny” Simmons has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and appointed as a member of Opus Bank’s Executive Committee. Ms. Simmons, a 22-year banking veteran, has served as SVP, Strategies and Growth since joining Opus in April 2014. In this capacity, Ms. Simmons has been responsible for supporting the strategic and tactical elements of Opus’ financial success, as well as leading bank-wide efforts to automate in order to scale for growth using project management methodologies and technology solutions.
Opus also announced today that Phil Petrozzi, SVP, Sr. Managing Director – Fiduciary Banking, has been promoted to take on the additional responsibilities of running Opus’ Banking Operations and Commercial Depository Services division. Mr. Petrozzi, a 33-year banking veteran, joined Opus in 2012 to launch, build, and lead Opus’ Fiduciary Banking Division, which serves property management firms, escrow companies, 1031 Exchange accommodators, homeowners associations, and other types of businesses that serve as fiduciaries.
Stephen H. Gordon, founding Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Opus Bank, stated, “We are proud to have Jenny take on these important roles as Chief Operating Officer and a member of Opus’ Executive Committee. Jenny has been an exceptionally valuable member of the senior leadership team. I have no doubt that she will experience tremendous success in these new roles, as she has since joining Opus 18 months ago.” Gordon added, “The depth and breadth of her knowledge and expertise in operations, combined with her no-nonsense direct approach to efficiently getting business done, will be of great value to Opus as we continue to efficiently execute on our strategic growth plans.” Gordon added, “We are very proud to also announce Phil being promoted to additionally head up Opus’ Banking Operations and Commercial Depository Services division. Phil is a seasoned, experienced, and highly regarded banker whose contributions have had a significant positive impact on the growth, maturation, and entrepreneurial culture of Opus Bank.” Gordon concluded, “We congratulate them both on achieving this great milestone.”
From 2010 to 2014, Ms. Simmons served as SVP, Business Manager of the Business Banking Group at Union Bank, where she led an 18 person team responsible for strategic planning and governance, sales processes, operations, projects, technology, systems administration, incentive design and administration, data integrity, analytics and reporting, business model development, product development, acquisition due diligence and integration, pricing tool design and administration, business process improvement, policy and procedure administration, and audit planning. From 2008 to 2010, Ms. Simmons served in senior leader positions at Wachovia and at Wells Fargo following its acquisition of Wachovia in 2008, including serving as SVP, Northern California Director and Business Banking Group Transition Leader. From 1993 to 2008, Ms. Simmons held numerous leadership positions with Bank of America serving most recently as SVP, Sales Performance Executive where she co-led the Pacific Southwest Business Banking Team, which was comprised of 11 Market Executives and over 250 Associates. Ms. Simmons holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida and graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School with Honors.
From 1995 to 2011, Mr. Petrozzi served as Senior Vice President, Regional Sales Manager at City National Bank where he created and led the Specialty Deposits unit. Prior to joining City National, Mr. Petrozzi held senior positions within the financial services divisions of Mercantile National Bank, Imperial Bank, Metro Bank, and Commercial Center Bank.
About Opus Bank
Opus Bank is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with over $6.2 billion of total assets, $5.0 billion of total loans, and $4.9 billion in total deposits as of September 30, 2015. Opus Bank provides high-value, relationship-based banking products, services, and solutions to its clients through its Retail Bank, Commercial Bank, Merchant Bank, and Correspondent Bank. Opus Bank offers a suite of treasury and cash management and depository solutions and a wide range of loan products, including commercial business, healthcare, technology, multifamily residential, commercial real estate, and structured finance, and is an SBA preferred lender. Opus Bank offers commercial escrow services and facilitates 1031 Exchange transactions through its Commerce Escrow Company and RPM Investments divisions. Opus Bank provides clients with financial and advisory services related to raising equity capital, targeted acquisition and divestiture strategies, general mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, balance sheet restructuring, valuation, strategy, and performance improvement through its Merchant Banking division and its broker-dealer subsidiary, Opus Financial Partners. Opus Bank operates 58 client experience centers, including 33 in California, 22 in the Seattle/Puget Sound region in Washington, two in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, and one in Portland, Oregon. For additional information about Opus Bank, please visit our website: www.opusbank.com. Opus Bank is an Equal Housing Lender.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may include forward-looking statements related to Opus’ plans, beliefs and goals, which involve certain risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events, and actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “intend” or “expect” or variations thereon or similar terminology. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and Opus undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
