SCVBank announces appointment of Cheryl L. Knight as President and Chief Executive Officer
November 18, 2011
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
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Cheryl L. Knight |
Community based Santa Clara Valley Bank (SCVB) has its fourth President/CEO with the announcement that bank veteran Cheryl Knight has been appointed to the top job.
Chairman of the Board Ralph De Leon was interim CEO after the departure of Michael D. Hause in late July; Hause had led SCVB for almost a decade when he resigned to join Calavo. “We are delighted that Ms. Knight has accepted the appointment,” said De Leon, “and are looking forward to a successful future under her very able leadership.”
“I am honored to be given this opportunity” and, Knight noted, “excited about the future of Santa Clara Valley Bank.... We have the best employees I have had the pleasure of working with, much more knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated than you find in large or small banks,” who are committed to SCVB and the community it serves. “Our employees,” said Knight, “are our greatest asset.”
Santa Clara Valley Bank, founded in 1998, is headquartered in Santa Paula and has offices in Fillmore and Valencia.
Hired as the Bank’s Senior Vice President/Chief Credit Officer in 2010, Knight was promoted in May 2011 to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, while retaining her responsibilities as Chief Credit Officer. Officially named to the top post Tuesday, Knight is working with the SCVB Board of Directors on new plans and strategies, “a lot of great ideas,” for the bank’s business future.
This week Knight and the board will be crafting the three-year Strategic Plan to gauge bank growth and development methods in the changing economy. “The board continues to demonstrate its commitment to the bank and community banking,” and Knight said, “Having built a strong infrastructure over the past year, we are positioned to grow the bank as the economy continues to improve.”
Knight said SCVB “has invested and will continue to invest in its communities to deliver the best service and products with responsive, flexible solutions. We believe both sides should win in all business transactions, and enjoy sharing success with our customers.”
Even in recent times of economic uncertainty, the future of community banking “is very strong... it’s interesting that there was some speculation at one point that the regulators would come out with an opinion that, to survive in the new banking world,” financial institutions would have to be “mega-banks... half-a-billion or stronger.... They backed off” when, said Knight, they realized what community banks have always known.
“Community banks will always have a place... and it’s a very good place for us, where we can deliver a type of service and products that are more customized for our customers,” who benefit from the personalized community banking experience. The slogan of SCVB is “We are Working for You” and, said Knight, “Watch us as we advance many exciting new initiatives into 2012 and beyond.”
Before joining SCVB, Knight had been Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Montecito Bank and Trust, as well as EVP/Chief Risk Officer for First California Bank. She had also held several other management positions at other financial institutions, including Union Bank and Wells Fargo.
Her resume includes employment with the internationally known Deloitte & Touche as a financial management consultant. As a senior officer of Montecito Bank and Trust Knight led the $750 million bank to perform at a high level, achieving the rating of Super Premier Performing Bank by Findley Reports.
A Ventura resident for more than 13 years, Knight has served eight years as a director for California Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC), a non-profit whose mission is to provide innovative and flexible financing to low- and moderate-income families in California. Knight also served as the chairperson of the CCRC Board.
