Columbia Banking System, Inc. and Columbia Bank announced that Aaron Deer has been appointed Columbia's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective on or before April 30, 2020. Mr. Deer's appointment is the result of an extensive national search following the departure of Greg Sigrist in February 2020.

Mr. Deer was most recently a Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst at Piper Sandler. As an equity analyst, he covered West Coast financial institutions for nearly 20 years with a focus on commercial banks and thrifts, financing of venture capital and private equity-backed enterprises as well as innovation among financial intermediaries. Prior to Piper Sandler, Mr. Deer provided research coverage on a variety of regional and national banks for RBC Capital Markets, and he supervised research and valuation teams for a middle-market M&A boutique. Mr. Deer began his career serving in a variety of frontline and back-office positions at community banks.

"We are delighted to welcome Aaron to Columbia's executive team," said Clint Stein, Columbia's President and Chief Executive Officer, "Aaron has earned a reputation as an industry thought leader, particularly among West Coast banks. We look forward to combining his broad industry expertise with a detailed understanding of our business as we continue to sharpen strategies for improved operating leverage and continued growth."

Mr. Deer noted, "I am excited to join the Columbia Bank leadership team. I've had the pleasure of working with Clint and the team for more than a decade and I've always appreciated Columbia's authentic culture and the strength of the brand. The team has built a solid foundation with tremendous potential and I look forward to contributing to the Bank's continued growth and success."

Mr. Deer holds a Master of Business Administration degree (international business) and a Master of Arts degree (international affairs) from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (economics) from the University of North Dakota. He is quoted frequently in national media on banking issues, financial innovation and the economy, and he advises management teams and boards on strategy and industry trends.