8-K: Live Oak Bancshares Appoints New Chief Risk Officer

Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. announced the appointment of Ewa M. Stasiowska as its new Chief Risk Officer, succeeding Gregory W. Seward.

Summary

• Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB) appointed Ewa M. Stasiowska as Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for the company and its subsidiary, Live Oak Banking Company, effective December 1, 2025.
• Ms. Stasiowska brings over two decades of experience in enterprise, financial, operational, and model risk functions within regulated financial institutions.
• She previously served as Senior Managing Director at Webster Bank, where she led the design and implementation of enterprise-wide risk and control frameworks.
• Gregory W. Seward, who served as CRO since July 2022, will continue in his role as General Counsel for the Company and the Bank.
• The company noted that surpassing the $10 billion asset threshold was a natural inflection point to delineate the CRO and General Counsel roles.

Sentiment

Score: 8

Explanation: The appointment of a highly experienced Chief Risk Officer is a proactive and positive step for Live Oak Bancshares, signaling a strengthening of corporate governance and risk management capabilities as the company continues its growth trajectory. This move is well-aligned with industry best practices for institutions exceeding significant asset thresholds.

Positives

• Appointment of a highly experienced Chief Risk Officer with over two decades in risk management strengthens the company's governance and risk oversight.
• The new CRO's background includes leading enterprise-wide risk and control frameworks and strengthening governance structures, which is beneficial for a growing institution.
• Dedicating a full-time CRO allows Gregory W. Seward to focus solely on his General Counsel responsibilities, potentially enhancing legal oversight.
• The move is a proactive step to manage increased complexity and regulatory scrutiny as the company has surpassed the $10 billion asset threshold.

Risks

• The company's dynamic growth and surpassing the $10 billion asset threshold inherently increase the complexity of enterprise, financial, operational, and model risks.
• Maintaining strength, stability, and an innovative approach while expanding reach to serve more business owners across the country presents ongoing risk management challenges.

Future Outlook

The company anticipates continued expansion to serve more business owners across the country, with the new CRO instrumental in ensuring the maintenance of strength, stability, and an innovative approach. The focus is on further strengthening risk management practices to safeguard the bank and support sustainable growth.

Management Comments

• "We're thrilled to welcome Ewa as Live Oak Bank's new Chief Risk Officer. She brings deep expertise in risk management and a proven track record of guiding financial institutions through dynamic growth." James S. (Chip) Mahan III, Chairman and CEO.
• "As Live Oak continues to expand our reach to serve more business owners across the country, Ewa's leadership will be instrumental in ensuring we maintain the strength, stability, and innovative approach our customers rely on." James S. (Chip) Mahan III, Chairman and CEO.
• "Now that the company has surpassed the $10 billion asset threshold, this is a natural inflection point to revisit the structure of these leadership responsibilities and delineate the roles as we continue to grow." William C. (BJ) Losch III, President.
• "I'm excited to join Live Oak Bank, an industry leader in small business banking and innovation. I look forward to leveraging my experience to further strengthen Live Oak's risk management practices in ways that safeguard the bank and support sustainable growth for our customers." Ewa M. Stasiowska, Chief Risk Officer.

Industry Context

This appointment reflects a common trend in the banking industry, particularly for growing financial institutions that cross significant asset thresholds (like $10 billion). Such growth often triggers increased regulatory scrutiny and a need for more specialized and robust risk management frameworks, leading companies to appoint dedicated, highly experienced Chief Risk Officers.

Management Changes

Corporate Governance

Stakeholder Impact

• **Shareholders:** Benefit from enhanced risk management and corporate governance, potentially leading to greater stability and long-term value protection.
• **Employees:** Clearer delineation of leadership roles may improve operational efficiency and strategic focus within the organization.
• **Customers:** Stronger risk management practices contribute to the bank's stability and reliability, ensuring continued support for business owners.
• **Regulatory Authorities:** The appointment of a highly experienced, dedicated CRO demonstrates a commitment to robust risk oversight, which is favorable for regulatory relations.

Next Steps

• Ewa M. Stasiowska will focus on leveraging her experience to further strengthen Live Oak's risk management practices.
• The company will continue its expansion to serve more business owners across the country, with enhanced risk oversight.

Key Dates

Keywords

Chief Risk Officer, CRO, Risk Management, Corporate Governance, Banking, Financial Institutions, Live Oak Bancshares, LOB, Executive Appointment