Christopher M. Naghibi serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of First Foundation Bank (NASDAQ: FFWM) where he has executive oversight of the Bank’s credit organization, loan servicing, C&I lending. In addition, he has responsibility for product and online banking operations; depository, specialty, treasury and commercial client service sales; and retail banking. He brings to the role a deep expertise in large volume institutional operations.
Mr. Naghibi joined First Foundation Bank in September 2007. He previously served as an underwriter between September 2007 and September 2008; as Vice President, Credit Underwriting Manager of the Bank between September 2008 and January 2010; and as Senior Vice President, Credit Underwriting Manager of the Bank between January 2010 and October 2014. Mr. Naghibi is an attorney, licensed in the State of California since 2018 and in the State of Washington since 2021. He is a real estate broker, licensed in the State of California since 2007. He is also a general building contractor (Class B), licensed in the State of California since 2019.
Prior to First Foundation Bank, Mr. Naghibi gained experience in a myriad of unique lending platforms. His time with Impac Commercial Capital Corporation, U.S. Financial Services & Residential Realty, and First Fidelity Funding equipped Mr. Naghibi with strong credit skills and broad experience in multifamily, commercial and single-family residence real estate lending, private banking, consumer lending, and both small business and middle market lending.
Mr. Naghibi graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Trinity Law School and received a Master of Business Administration from American Heritage University alongside two bachelor degrees. Mr. Naghibi is also a graduate of the Yale School of Management Global Executive Leadership Program.
He has been a speaker at leading industry events and contributes to the media on topics related to lending, financial technology, and real estate. He provides pro bono legal work for families in need and has worked with Habitat for Humanity to create unique loan programs helping to get deserving families into the home of their dreams in Hawaii, Las Vegas, and California. He has been instrumental as a founding board member of several non-profits including She Built This City, which is aimed at helping empower women of all ages in sparking interest in the construction and manufacturing trades.
