GULFPORT, Miss., Sept. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- James Fujinaga, an accomplished wealth management and investments leader, starts today as the new president of Hancock Investment Services, Inc., the broker-dealer subsidiary of the bank operating across five Gulf South states under the Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank names.
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Hancock Holding Company (Nasdaq:HBHC) is the bank’s parent company.
Company leaders said hiring Fujinaga supports a focus on expanding one wealth management team of banking, financial planning, and investment professionals and using nationally recognized know-how and best-in-class resources to match clients’ needs with a wide range of investment strategies.
“Jim Fujinaga has proven he has the experience and expertise to drive a holistic client experience, including investments, financial planning, and risk management,” said Chief Wealth Management Officer Miles Milton. “He not only has the senior executive insights to lead Hancock Investment Services, Inc., he also has sharp industry perspectives to help our investment professionals serve and guide clients wanting to grow and protect their assets.”
Based in New Orleans, Fujinaga will oversee investment services throughout the bank’s business footprint, including Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
With solid success in building, implementing, and leading high-performing investment businesses, Fujinaga joins Hancock Investment Services, Inc., with more than 25 years of senior-level experience. The veteran investments executive specializes in a goals-driven investing approach for clients and in helping top-tier financial advisors expand consultative client relationships.
His accomplishments also include sales and organizational leadership, change management, and integrating investments and financial planning into efficient wealth management structures reinforced with compliance, governance, and accountability to protect clients and the company.
“We believe Jim is a strong fit for our company’s culture. His leadership will help us continue driving a contemporary business strategy rooted in century-old core values and a longstanding commitment to giving our clients best-in-class service anchored in integrity,” added Milton.
Fujinaga is a former managing partner of Private Wealth Alliance, an organization in partnership with LPL Financial. He launched and/or re-engineered wealth management programs for banks and credit unions and provided a multi-custodian hybrid Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) platform for independent advisors. Previously, he was president and CEO of Bancwest Investment Services (BWIS). He led the firm in successfully integrating an advisory and planning platform while developing a four-channel client service model: Private Client, Branch Based, Direct-Online and Call Center.
As the Chase Investment Services, Inc., senior investment manager, he oversaw all aspects of the investment business in California and the Pacific Northwest. He was also senior regional sales manager for Wells Fargo Private Client Services and investment area director with Citicorp Investment Services.
Fujinaga earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Business Administration in financial planning from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He holds Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 4, 7, 9, 10, 24, 53, 63, and 65 licenses.
Hancock Investment Services, Inc., is a registered broker and dealer, member of FINRA and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), and a wholly owned subsidiary of Whitney Bank. Investments offered through Hancock Investment Services are
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About Hancock and Whitney Bank
Since the late 1800s, the Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank names have embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Part of Hancock Holding Company’s Gulf South financial services family, Hancock Bank locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and Whitney Bank locations in Louisiana and Texas provide comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.