First Foundation Appoints Tyler Resh as Director of Marketing and Strategy

First Foundation Inc. (NASDAQ: FFWM), a financial services company that provides investment management, wealth planning, consulting, trust and banking services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and businesses, today announced that Tyler Resh has been appointed as Director of Marketing and Strategy of the firm. Prior to joining First Foundation, Mr. Resh was a partner at Echelon Partners, an investment bank and consulting firm focused on the wealth and investment management industries.

In his role, Mr. Resh will oversee all marketing and communications activities at the firm, which takes on an even greater significance in light of First Foundation’s public listing on the NASDAQ exchange. Mr. Resh’s broad experience in marketing M&A deals, conducting valuations and providing strategic consulting will be brought to bear as First Foundation seeks to fuel expansion efforts in impactful and meaningful ways.

Scott F. Kavanaugh, Chief Executive Officer of First Foundation, comments, “We are very pleased to welcome Tyler to the team. His appointment is an exciting step for us as a firm, as we feel that our growth trajectory and our story warrant more visibility. Tyler’s background and experience are a perfect fit for us and he will be instrumental in helping us crystallize our message and promote the strength of our brand.”

Mr. Resh adds, “My initial interactions with First Foundation came while working as an investment banker. It was remarkable to hear everything they were offering clients – whether it was related to its banking capabilities, its trust services, its investment management offering, its financial planning solutions, or the fact they invest significantly in charitable causes in the communities they serve. I have always held First Foundation in high regard, and it is something I am now fortunate to be a part of. This is a rare opportunity that offers a new journey worth pursuing."

Mr. Resh brings to First Foundation 17 years of experience as an investment banker and strategy consultant. He has over 14 years of experience advising wealth and investment managers on strategic options related to growth. In addition to conducting M&A deals, Mr. Resh would be retained by clients to assist with marketing and strategic growth initiatives. His expertise in marketing was called upon frequently by clients looking to increase the effectiveness of their internal client and prospect outreach programs. Mr. Resh has also been the co-host of the Deals and Deal Makers Summit, a conference focused on buying, selling, and merging wealth management firms. His extensive network of contacts and his strong knowledge of the investment management, wealth management and banking community is certainly something First Foundation plans to leverage as the firm expands its visibility and reach.

Mr. Resh began his professional career as a management consultant at a prominent LA-based consulting firm. Mr. Resh holds a degree in Economics from UCLA.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About First Foundation

First Foundation, a financial institution founded in 1990, provides integrated investment management, wealth planning, consulting, trust, and banking services. As of September 30, 2014, First Foundation Advisors has $3.2 billion assets under management; First Foundation Bank has $1.3 billion total assets. The company is headquartered in Irvine with offices in Newport Beach, Pasadena, West Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Desert and the Imperial Valley in California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, please visit our website at www.ff-inc.com.