Chris Dods isn’t following his father’s career footsteps exactly, but the son of former First Hawaiian Bank CEO Walter Dods Jr. is rising at the bank and now heads a division where his father began his own ascent.

First Hawaiian announced Thursday that Chris Dods has become manager of its marketing communications division. The senior vice president replaces Brandt Farias, who retired from the position Nov. 1 after 28 years at the bank.

Chris Dods has been with First Hawaiian since 2007. He started at the bank as an assistant vice president in business development, new markets and technology, then was promoted to vice president of the card services division in 2009 and then to senior vice president and card services division manager in 2011. In his most recent position, Dods was responsible for directing the marketing and operations of the bank’s credit and debit card programs.

The new marketing communications division includes areas of public relations and advertising, where Walter Dods got his start in 1968 at the bank, then known as First National Bank of Hawaii.

The elder Dods had advertising, marketing and community relations experience at Dillingham Corp. that he used to become director of public relations and advertising at the bank. Among his roles, he oversaw the bank’s name change and began its long-running “The bank that says Yes” marketing campaign.

Walter Dods became First Hawaiian’s president in 1984 at the age of 43, and then became CEO and chairman in 1989. He retired in 2004.

Chris Dods, 38, is the only one of four siblings in his family at First Hawaiian. He joined the bank after serving as a business development manager with Mid Pac Petroleum.

Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian’s president and CEO, highlighted what he called the proven leadership of Chris Dods to oversee the marketing communications division. “He brings with him an extensive background and breadth of experience in bank marketing and business development,” Harrison said.