Local Banker Is One of 25 Women 'to Watch,' Magazine Says

From a press release:

MUFG Union Bank, N.A., today announced that Managing Director Bita Ardalan has been named among American Banker Magazine’s “25 Women to Watch” for her role as head of the Commercial Banking Group for the Western Markets.

This is the third consecutive year Ardalan has been included in the magazine’s annual “Most Powerful Women in Banking” issue. Based in Woodland Hills, Ardalan also has an office in downtown Los Angeles.

“We’re extremely proud and honored that American Banker Magazine has once again recognized Bita’s outstanding achievements,” said Michael Stedman, head of commercial banking for MUFG Union Bank. “This distinction is a reflection of Bita’s continued efforts to exceed expectations. She is a leader in every sense of the word, whether surpassing bank-wide goals, mentoring young women in business or giving back to the community.”

“We congratulate Bita for her designation as one of American Banker’s 25 Women to Watch,” said the American Banker Magazine Executive Editor Bonnie McGeer. “She possesses the skills and enthusiasm that the industry is eager to watch.”

As head of the Commercial Banking Group for the Western Markets—which include California, Oregon and Washington—Ardalan is responsible for the sales and marketing and credit management of the bank’s commercial lending activities. Since beginning this role in July 2013, she increased the group’s total loans outstanding by 32 percent and increased core earnings by 10 percent when compared to the first half of 2013.

The Commercial Banking Group provides financial expertise to commercial clients including but not limited to: debt financing, depository and cash management, global trade, foreign currency exposure, interest rate and commodity management, syndications, private placements, high-grade and high-yield financing, securitizations, structured finance, leasing, mezzanine financing, ratings advisory, and private banking services across a broad range of industries.

Prior to her current position, Ardalan founded and oversaw the bank’s National Specialized Lending Group, including commercial finance, environmental services, non-profits, healthcare, aerospace and defense, public finance, and funds finance which supports the needs of sponsored investment funds, including bridge capital and subscription facilities. Under her direction, the group became the fastest-growing division across all of commercial lending. Ardalan joined MUFG Union Bank in 1986 as a management trainee.

Ardalan earned her Bachelor of Science in business management from Williams College. She has completed numerous executive education programs in corporate finance, leadership, strategic planning and finance at the Kellogg School for Management at Northwestern University. She is a frequent speaker and author on senior financing-related topics and currently serves on the Iranian-American Women’s advisory board, on the Association for Corporate Growth’s Los Angeles Mergers and Acquisitions Conference Committee, and as an Ambassador to the Looking Beyond Foundation. A Calabasas resident, Ardalan is also involved with Junior Achievement.

Ardalan is joined on American Banker’s “25 Women to Watch” list by Wendy Breuder, co-general manager and head of Midwest general industries for the U.S. Corporate Banking Division of MUFG Union Bank. Breuder is based in Chicago.

The “25 Women to Watch” list includes both emerging female talent in banking and industry veterans who have taken on new roles within the past year. All of this year’s honorees will be celebrated at an October 9 dinner and awards ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, hosted by American Banker Magazine and parent company SourceMedia. The 12th annual ranking is featured in the October issue ofAmerican Banker and published at http://www.americanbanker.com/women-in-banking.