There's new leadership at First Tech Federal Credit Union.

Gregory Mitchell, former CEO of First PacTrust Bancorp and PacTrust Bank, has been named the president/CEO at the Palo Alto, Calif.-based credit union.

“With more than 30 years of community banking and financial institution experience and his visionary, results-driven leadership style, Mitchell is the ideal leader for First Tech,” the credit union said in a statement. “He is deeply committed to customer service and serving the community, and has been a member of a credit union for more than 35 years.”

Mitchell succeeds former president/CEO Benson Porter, who returned to Seattle to serve as president/CEO of Tukwila, Wash-based BECU.

Interim President/CEO Hank Sigmon will return to his previous position of chief financial officer, First Tech said.

The $5.6 billion credit union made headlines in 2010 as the nation's largest interstate credit union merger of Addison Avenue FCU and First Tech of Beaverton, Ore.

Prior to his tenure with First PacTrust, Mitchell served as president and CEO of Los Angeles-based California National Bank from 2001 to 2009, overseeing nearly 70 branch locations throughout Southern California and directing more than 800 team members. In 1995, he founded the West Coast office of Hovde Financial — an investment banking, asset management and private equity firm where he served as partner until 2001.

Mitchell has also held positions with the Department of the Treasury, working in both the Office of Thrift Supervision in San Francisco and the Office of the Secretary in Washington, D.C.

“We're thrilled to welcome Greg to First Tech and believe that his extensive financial institution experience, his deep roots in serving the community and his visionary leadership approach are the perfect match for us,” said John Weidert, board chairman at First Tech. “Hank and our entire executive team have done an outstanding job leading First Tech in the interim, affording the board the time to select the perfect candidate.”