BISHOP MUSEUM

Linda Chock has been promoted to director of sales, event planning and visitor services for Bishop Museum. Before joining Bishop Museum in 2006, Chock served as the director of group sales for Polynesian Cultural Center. She also was director of developing international markets at the Hawai'i Convention and Visitors Bureau.

FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK

First Hawaiian Bank has promoted Benjamin K. Akana to senior vice president and region manager; Neill A. Char to senior vice president and branch manager; ROBERT HEBERER to senior vice president, credit administration department; Gregory J. Sitar to senior vice president and area manager; and Vernon Y. C. Wong to senior vice president and manager, private wealth management.

Akana has more than 25 years of banking experience and joined First Hawaiian Bank in 1991. He is a specialist in retail and business banking.

Char joined First Hawaiian in 2001 as a corporate banking officer and was promoted to vice president in 2002 and named branch manager, University Branch in 2004.

Herberer joined First Hawaiian Bank in 1974 as a commercial loan officer and was promoted to vice president in 1976.

Sitar began his career with First Hawaiian Bank in 1983 as a management trainee and has held various positions, including loan representative and branch manager.

Wong joined First Hawaiian Bank in 2005 as vice president and wealth management officer. He has more than 23 years of asset management and financial planning experience, and was previously field vice president with American Express Financial Advisors, Hawaii.

First Hawaiian also has promoted Paul Alimbuyao, Shirley Durham, John Flanigan, John Kubo, Jen-L Lyman, Karen Ma-tsumoto, Manolo Tumalip and Jeffrey Ventura to vice president.

Announcements of promotions and job changes can be sent to: Alan Yonan, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; faxed to 525-6763, or e-mailed to tradewinds@honoluluadvertiser.com. For e-mailed releases, please make sure the information is included in the body of the message, not as an attachment. High resolution (at least 200 dpi in a .jpg format) color photographs are preferred.

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