IRVINE, California, January 26, 2017 – McDermott & Bull, the 29th largest executive search firm in the Americas and the fastest-growing firm within the Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Recruiters list, is pleased to announce the successful appointment of Scott Ritter as Senior Vice President of Mortgage Banking with Provident Bank (NASDAQ:PROV).

This executive recruiting engagement was conducted by Brandon Biegenzahn, Co-Chair of the Financial Institutions Practice; Chris Bull, Managing Partner; Michelle Davis, Associate Principal Consultant; and Rob Gross, Associate Principal Consultant at McDermott & Bull.  According to Biegenzahn, “The end result was ideal for Provident Bank as Scott brings a strong track record of success and a true understanding of the incredible legacy for expertise in mortgage lending which he is inheriting at Provident Bank.”

McDermott & Bull’s search process identified more than 150 candidates throughout the Western Region of the United States, presenting a diverse and elite slate of mortgage industry leaders to Provident’s senior leadership team.

Provident Bank prepared a press release on this topic in late 2016, set forth below:

RIVERSIDE, California, September 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Company”), (NASDAQ:PROV), the holding company for Provident Savings Bank, F.S.B. (“Bank”), today announced that Richard L. Gale, Senior Vice President of Mortgage Banking, will retire from the Bank at the close of business on Friday, October 14, 2016.  The Company also announced that Robert “Scott” Ritter will succeed Mr. Gale as Senior Vice President of Mortgage Banking for the Bank.  Mr. Ritter will begin his employment with the Bank on Monday, September 26, 2016.

“On behalf of the Bank and its Board of Directors, I would like to thank Rich for his service and leadership over the past 29 years,” said Craig G. Blunden, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “Rich has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in mortgage banking and he has been an invaluable asset to the Bank.”

Mr. Ritter joins the Bank from California Mortgage Advisors, where he has served as their Chief Operating Officer since November 2011.  In his role as Chief Operating Officer, he has been responsible for overseeing all of California Mortgage Advisors’ operations, including product development, underwriting, loan processing, and information technology.  Prior to that, he has held positions with increasing responsibilities at such notable mortgage banking firms as Green Point Financial and its predecessor Headlands Mortgage Company, among others.

Mr. Blunden stated, “I am pleased that Scott has decided to join our senior management team.  His mortgage banking experience is well rounded and we have every confidence that he will immediately contribute to our success.”

“I am eager to join the team at Provident Bank and Provident Bank Mortgage and the more I have learned about the Company and its 60 year history the more excited I have become,” said Mr. Ritter.  “These opportunities do not come along very often and I believe my experience and skill set is a very good fit for a company with such a rich history.”

About McDermott & Bull

McDermott & Bull has been redefining expectations within the world of executive search since 2001.  The firm’s practice leaders, all of whom have substantial executive experience, are uniquely positioned to address the dynamic leadership demands of public and private companies across nearly every industry.  With the advent of MB Interim Leaders in 2011, McDermott & Bull is powerfully equipped to service both the permanent and interim needs of its clients.  Respected companies including Aramark, Epson America, Hyundai Capital America, In-N-Out Burger, Kaiser Aluminum, Unified Grocers, Western Federal Credit Union (UNIFY Financial Credit Union), Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Chicken of the Sea, Western Digital, Golden State Foods, Google, Panda Restaurant Group, Honda Center/Anaheim Ducks, Comerica Bank, Union Bank, as well as portfolio companies owned by private equity firms such as Riverside Company, Sun Capital Partners, ClearLight Partners, Swander Pace Capital, Chicago Growth Partners, and Riordan, Lewis & Hayden, have all partnered with McDermott & Bull.  Additionally, the firm’s Executive Network program provides valuable resources for and offers opportunities to build meaningful relationships with thousands of C-Suite and VP-level executives throughout the country.

With backgrounds in the banking and financial services industry, Rod McDermott, Managing Partner, and Brandon Biegenzahn, Partner, lead and represent McDermott & Bull’s Banking & Financial Institutions Practice.  Using their robust industry knowledge, Rod and Brandon partner with clients such as American River Bank, ANZ Bank, Bank of Marin, Bank of the Cascades, BNY Mellon, First American Trust, First Republic Bank, Luther Burbank Savings, Pacific Mercantile Bank, Plaza Bank, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Silvergate Bank, Sunwest Bank, Union Bank, and Washington Trust Bank to find C-level executives, including CEO, COO, President, CFO, Chief Banking Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Information Officer, Compliance Leaders, HR Leaders, Retail Banking Executives, Trust and Wealth Management Leaders and Business Banking.  To learn more about McDermott & Bull’s Banking and Financial Institutions Practice, please visit http://mbsearch.com/industry-expertise/banking-financial-services/.