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Bank of Hawai'i Announces Planned Retirement of Chairman and CEO Peter S. Ho

  • Peter S. Ho will retire as Chairman & CEO of Bank of Hawai'i (BOHC) effective March 31, 2026, after serving since 2010.
  • James C. Polk, current BOHC President & Chief Banking Officer, will succeed Ho as President & CEO on April 1, 2026.
  • Polk will also join BOHC's Board of Directors upon becoming CEO.
  • Raymond P. Vara, Jr., current Lead Independent Director, will assume the role of Non-Executive Chairman on April 1, 2026.
  • Ho will serve as a consultant to the company through the end of 2027 to support the transition.
  • Ho's tenure as CEO spanned 16 years, making him the third-longest tenured CEO in the bank's 128-year history.
  • Under Ho's leadership, the bank was named "America's Best Banks" by Forbes for 15 consecutive years.
  • Ho established initiatives including the Live Kōkua Giving Campaign, the Bank of Hawai'i College Assistance Program, & Bankoh Meals-To-Go.
  • Polk has over 35 years of experience in financial services & joined the bank in 1999.
  • Polk previously served as Chief Banking Officer (appointed 2021) & President (appointed July 2024).
  • Polk holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Michigan & is a graduate of Harvard Business School.
  • Ho holds a bachelor's degree & MBA from the University of Southern California & graduated from Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program.
  • The succession plan aims to ensure stability & continuity for the 128-year-old financial institution.