Umpqua Bank Appoints Judi Giem as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resource Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Columbia Banking System (Nasdaq: COLB), has appointed Judi Giem as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer, effective June 2, 2025. Giem brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience in publicly traded companies, specializing in workforce and cultural integration during mergers. Following the proposed acquisition of Pacific Premier Bank, an $18B institution, Umpqua Bank will expand to approximately 6,500 employees across eight western states with $70B in assets.

In her new role, Giem will oversee talent recruitment, retention, professional development, compensation, benefits, and succession planning. She previously served as CHRO at Tri-Counties Bank and managed talent at Banner Bank, with experience in cultural assimilation during acquisitive growth. Giem holds degrees from Whitworth University and Gonzaga University.

Positive

• Strategic hire with extensive M&A integration experience ahead of $18B Pacific Premier Bank acquisition
• Company growth to $70B in assets and expansion across eight western states
• New CHRO brings valuable experience in managing cultural integration during mergers

Negative

• Integration challenges and cultural alignment risks with upcoming large-scale merger
• Potential workforce restructuring and consolidation following Pacific Premier acquisition

News Market Reaction

-0.16%

1 alert

-0.16% News Effect

On the day this news was published, COLB declined 0.16%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Columbia Banking System, Inc. (Nasdaq: COLB), today announced the appointment of Judi Giem to serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resource Officer, effective June 2, 2025.

As a member of Umpqua Bank's executive leadership team, Giem will oversee the bank's full human resource function, including talent recruiting and retention, professional development, compensation and benefits and succession planning. Following the completion of a recently proposed acquisition of Pacific Premier Bank, an $18B bank in Irvine, California, Umpqua Bank will employ roughly 6,500 associates across eight western states and hold $70B in assets.

"Judi is an accomplished executive who's helped multiple financial institutions enhance the excellence of their HR and culture programs through periods of transition and rapid growth," said Clint Stein, Umpqua Bank CEO. "She's a terrific fit for our growing bank, and we are excited to have someone with her background and experience help us build toward the future."

Giem brings to her new role more than 20 years of comprehensive human resource leadership experience for publicly traded companies, including overseeing the workforce and cultural integration of multiple newly combined companies. She most recently served as Chief Human Resource Officer at Tri-Counties Bank, where she led all HR functions and served on the executive leadership team. Prior to that role, Giem oversaw talent management at Banner Bank and was responsible for talent recruiting, acquisition and retention, as well as cultural assimilation initiatives following the bank's significant growth through acquisition. She has also led organizational planning and implementation of human capital programs to support cultural engagement and acquisitive growth at other publicly traded companies and banks in California and Washington, including Sterling Bank, acquired by Umpqua Bank in 2014.

Giem holds a BA in Organizational Development from Whitworth University and earned her MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.

About Umpqua Bank
Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Columbia Banking System, Inc. (Nasdaq: COLB), is an award-winning regional financial institution supporting businesses of all sizes and consumers across eight western states. Headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with more than $50 billion in assets, Umpqua is the largest Northwest-based and third largest publicly traded bank on the West Coast. Through a network of nearly 300 branches and a full suite of commercial and retail capabilities, Umpqua is taking its celebrated brand of relationship banking across the West into some of the most dynamic and economically vibrant markets in the country. For its commitment to exceptional customer service and thriving communities, Umpqua has been named one of "Oregon's Most Admired Companies" for 20 straight years.

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SOURCE Umpqua Bank

FAQ

Who is the new CHRO of Umpqua Bank (COLB) and when does she start?

Judi Giem will start as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Umpqua Bank on June 2, 2025.

What will be Umpqua Bank's size after the Pacific Premier Bank acquisition?

After the proposed acquisition, Umpqua Bank will have approximately $70B in assets and 6,500 employees across eight western states.

What is Judi Giem's previous experience in banking?

Giem was previously CHRO at Tri-Counties Bank and managed talent at Banner Bank, with over 20 years of HR leadership experience in publicly traded companies.

How does Judi Giem's appointment relate to COLB's acquisition strategy?

Giem brings extensive experience in workforce and cultural integration during mergers, which aligns with Umpqua Bank's upcoming acquisition of Pacific Premier Bank.