Reflecting continued growth and consistent with the strategic initiatives announced previously by the bank, Bank Leumi USA (Leumi) announced that Shawn McGowen has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Banking, replacing Hilla Eran-Zick, who is returning to Bank Leumi in Israel as the newly appointed Chief Risk Officer. Mr. McGowen, tasked with expanding and leading Leumi's growing commercial banking business, will report directly to Leumi President and CEO, Avner Mendelson.
"Shawn is a talented leader who has been able to grow commercial banking to new heights across the country for several top financial institutions in the U.S. It is uncommon to find someone with such a breadth of management experience coupled with an understanding of the middle market industries and the treasury services needs clients face every day. We are delighted to have Shawn in this key role to further grow our commercial banking market share across the U.S., particularly in the middle market industries where we are focused," said Avner Mendelson, President and CEO, Leumi.
McGowen joined Citi in 2011 and served as president of Citi Commercial Bank for the West and Central Regions where he led Business and Commercial Banking, supported by lending teams concentrating on companies with annual revenues in excess of $5 million. Most recently, he served as Citi Commercial Bank's Managing Director of the Upper Middle Market segment, nationally.
"This is an exceptional time to join Leumi. For over 50 years, Leumi has been a trusted name in commercial banking, particularly in middle market sectors such as apparel and healthcare, commercial real estate lending, technology and media and entertainment. In the coming months and years, I look forward to building on that success and exploring other opportunities to fuel our growth," said Mr. McGowen.
Prior to Citi, McGowen served as Division Sales Manager at Wells Fargo and Wachovia, where he led the Mid-Atlantic Treasury Management Sales team and held other commercial lending and management roles in New York, Florida, California and Virginia.
Bank Leumi USA (Leumi) is a full-service commercial and private banking institution providing financial services to middle-market firms, as well as a full range of private banking solutions to domestic and international clients. Leumi also offers a broad range of securities and insurance products through its brokerage subsidiary, Leumi Investment Services Inc.