HONOLULU — After a 26-year career as an executive at First Hawaiian Bank, Al Yamada has announced his retirement, effective June 1. Yamada steps down to a part-time role while serving as vice chairman, chief financial officer, treasurer and chief administrative
HONOLULU — After a 26-year career as an executive at First Hawaiian Bank, Al Yamada has announced his retirement, effective June 1.
Yamada steps down to a part-time role while serving as vice chairman, chief financial officer, treasurer and chief administrative officer. He will continue to serve through a transition period before fully retiring.
“Al has been a key member of our management team for a long, long time and we’ll miss him,” said Bob Harrison, chairman, president and CEO of First Hawaiian Bank. “During Al’s tenure as CFO of First Hawaiian, he played a central role as our bank became the most profitable company in Hawaii and the state’s largest financial institution.”
Michael Ching, a current managing partner at the Hawaii Office of Ernst & Young LLP, will succeed Yamada.
“Fortunately, in Michael Ching, we have found a senior finance executive with more than two decades of experience in accounting, auditing and advising banking clients in the islands,” Harrison added. “He understands banking and he understands Hawaii. He’ll be a valuable addition to First Hawaiian and we’re glad to welcome him aboard.”
Yamada’s career as a top banking executive started as president of International Savings & Loan Association, Ltd., from 1978 to 1986. Then, from 1988 to 1997, he served as president and chief operating officer of Pioneer Federal Savings Bank.
Pioneer was acquired by First Hawaiian in 1993 and continued to operate as a separate bank until 1997, when it was merged into First Hawaiian. At that time, Yamada moved over to First Hawaiian, becoming CFO.
Prior to his banking career, he was a manager and audit specialist at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in Honolulu. A native of Hilo, Yamada earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Ching, a native of Hawaii, earned a bachelor of science in commerce and accounting from Santa Clara University and is a CPA in Hawaii, California, Colorado and Guam.
He has worked for Ernst & Young since 1993, specializing in banking and capital markets.
