James A. Hughes
Los Angeles, CA – The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco appointed James A. Hughes chairman of the Los Angeles Branch board of directors, effective January 1, 2015. In addition, Ilyanne Morden Kichaven, SAG-AFTRA Executive Director, Los Angeles Local, and Robert H. Gleason, president and CEO of Evans Hotels, were appointed to the board of directors of its Los Angeles branch, effective January 1, 2015. Peggy Tsiang Cherng, co-Chair and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group, Inc., Rosemead, California was reappointed to a three-year term ending December 31, 2016.
Mr. Hughes is the CEO of First Solar, Inc., a provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems. Prior to joining First Solar, he served as CEO and Director of AEI Services LLC, which owned and operated power distribution, power generation (both thermal and renewable), natural gas transportation and services, and natural gas distribution businesses in emerging markets worldwide.
Ilyanne Morden Kichaven
Mr. Hughes holds a JD from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, a Certificate of Completion in international business law from Queen Mary’s College, University of London, and a BA in business administration from Southern Methodist University. He was also reappointed to an unexpired portion of a term ending December 31, 2016.
Ms. Morden Kichaven currently serves as SAG-AFTRA Executive Director, Los Angeles Local, representing over 80,000 actors, broadcasters, dancers, singers, stunt-persons, voiceover and recording artists. She previously served as the first female Hollywood Executive Director in Screen Actors Guild’s (SAG) 79-year history, as well as SAG’s top communications and marketing executive. She holds a degree from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and has been recognized with numerous civic and community honors. Ms. Morden Kichaven was appointed to an unexpired portion of a term ending December 31, 2015.
Robert H. Gleason
Mr. Gleason was appointed president and CEO of Evans Hotels in 2014. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Gleason spent the previous 15 years as the CFO and General Counsel of Evans Hotels. He serves as the Board Chair of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, the owner and operator of San Diego International Airport, a Trustee of the Francis Parker School, and an Executive Committee member of the Princeton University Alumni Council, and co-chair of the Committee on LGBT Alumni Affairs at Princeton. He holds a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law, and an A.B. in Economics from Princeton University. He was appointed to a three-year term ending December 31, 2017.
Peggy Tsiang Cherng
Dr. Cherng, is the co-Chair and co-CEO at Panda Restaurant Group. Founded in 1973, PRG remains family-owned and operates the family of restaurants that includes 1700 Panda Express, Panda Inn and Hibachi-San, employing 26,000 associates. She serves as a Director of Methodist Hospital of Southern California, the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and the Board of Visitors of the Peter F. Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Cherng received a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Oregon State University and a M.S. in Computer Science and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri.
The Los Angeles Branch board of directors provides economic perspective on the region to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s board of directors.
The balance of the Los Angeles Branch board includes:
Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports, Los Angeles, CA.
John C. Molina, CFO of Molina Healthcare, Inc., Long Beach, CA.
David I. Rainer, chairman and CEO of California United Bank, Encino, CA.
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (SF Fed) works to advance the nation’s monetary, financial, and payment systems to build a stronger economy for all Americans. As part of the U.S. central bank, the SF Fed serves the Twelfth Federal Reserve District, which covers the nine western states—Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawai’i, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington—plus American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. By pursuing our two key goals of maximum employment and price stability—known as the Fed’s dual mandate—we work toward supporting an economy that works for everyone.