J (Jason) Hester

EVP, Chief Digital Officer | Ai Executive

Columbia Banking System

J (Jason) is a transformative leader and veteran of the banking industry, currently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer for Columbia Banking System, Inc. In this role, he spearheads the company’s technological evolution and leads the Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, ensuring that AI initiatives drive measurable business value.

With a career beginning in the mid-90s at Washington Mutual, J (Jason) has navigated the industry’s most significant shifts. During a prolific 17-year tenure at AmericanWest Bank, he was instrumental in scaling the institution from $120 million to nearly $9 billion in assets. A veteran of 31 closed deals and over 145 due diligence journeys, he is an expert in M&A, system rationalization, and the 2008 recapitalization era.
J (Jason) is a "business-first" technologist who believes that complexity is the silent killer of growth. He has led massive transitions from Waterfall to Agile/Kanban and overseen diverse functions including Data Analytics, Digital Strategy, IT/IS, and Service Management. His philosophy is simple: reduce the number of systems to achieve excellence in those that remain. By focusing on automation across the front, middle, and back offices, he reduces friction, lowers expenses, and builds stronger vendor partnerships. He is dedicated to building the strategically important, tech-forward bank of the future.

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