The Pacific Coast Banking School has named Gretchen Claflin chief executive officer effective April 6. Claflin has been the school’s president since 2016, and was its chief operating officer prior to that starting in 2013.
Claflin began her career working as a CPA for Ernst and Young. As an auditor, she gained experience working with banks, particularly in the special credits area.
“Gretchen’s familiarity with the operations of the school, her demonstrated leadership capabilities, her grasp of current technologies, and her financial background made her the preferred candidate,” PCBS Chairman David Bobbitt said. “Her innovation and energy will drive new initiatives that will benefit not only PCBS students and alumni, but also future generations of leaders in the banking and financial services industry.”
Claflin will replace Dave Enger, who became president and CEO of PCBS in 2001. A former bank vice president and founder of the Business & Banking Institute of Seattle, Wash., Enger was a top-ranked faculty member at PCBS for more than 28 years before becoming CEO.
Claflin will become the first female CEO of a graduate banking school in the country.
Pacific Coast Banking School, which is hosted at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, was founded in 1938.