Lance Mizumoto, a one-time candidate to become CEO of Central Pacific Bank, has rejoined First Hawaiian Bank as executive vice president and commercial real estate division manager.

Mizumoto, 58, replaces Ralph Mesick, who was promoted by First Hawaiian in May to executive vice president and chief risk officer of the risk management group. Mizumoto has more than 35 years of banking experience and previously was at First Hawaiian from 1996 to 2005 as vice president at the main and Kapiolani branches and as the Kahului branch manager before being promoted to senior vice president and manager of the bank’s corporate Hawaii division and trade finance department.

At Central Pacific, Mizumoto was co-president with Catherine Ngo from May 2014 until July 1, 2015, when Ngo was chosen as CEO. Mizumoto subsequently was named vice chairman and chief operating officer. Mizumoto resigned from Central Pacific on Nov. 30, 2016, in a departure that the bank called “a personal decision.” Mizumoto had a total annual wage package of $854,694 in 2015, according to a Central Pacific regulatory filing in March of last year. His pay package at First Hawaiian was not disclosed.

“Lance has deep roots in our community and brings extensive experience in the areas of commercial lending, corporate banking, residential, wealth management and trade finance,” First Hawaiian Chairman and CEO Bob Harrison said today in a statement. “We are pleased to welcome Lance back to FHB and look forward to him leveraging his knowledge of the market in helping us strategically grow our portfolio.”

Mizumoto also serves as chairman of the state Board of Education after succeeding Don Horner, the former CEO of First Hawaiian. Mizumoto also is a regent for Chaminade University.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to return to First Hawaiian Bank,” Mizumoto said. “The bank is clearly headed for bigger and better things and I want to contribute to its continued success,” said Lance Mizumoto.

First Hawaiian, trading under its new holding company name of First Hawaiian Inc., began trading publicly in August.