Posted on: Saturday, February 2,2002

First Hawaiian gives Horner more power

By Frank Cho
Advertiser Staff Writer

First Hawaiian Bank chief executive officer Walter Dods told employees yesterday he is turning over management for most of the bank's operations to his heir apparent, vice chairman Don Horner.

Horner, 51, is currently responsible for the bank's retail banking group — already the largest segment of the bank.

But under a reorganization revealed to bank employees yesterday, First Hawaiian's Finance and Investment Group, Information Management Group and Wealth Management Group will also begin reporting to Horner.

"It's no secret that I have designated Don Horner, an outstanding banker and leader, as my heir apparent at First Hawaiian Bank," Dods said. "Now, Jack Tsui, Howard Karr and I have begun giving Don additional responsibilities."

Dods, 60, said he is not planning to leave the bank and still has 35 months remaining on a three-year employment contract with the bank's owner, Paris-based BNP Paribas.

"I don't want anyone inside or outside First Hawaiian Bank, especially our competitors and our customers, to misread this process and feed some erroneous rumor mill," Dods said in a letter to employees. "I'm not leaving anytime soon."

Reach Frank Cho at fcho@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8088.