8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: April 16, 2018

(Date of earliest event reported)

Umpqua Holdings Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

OREGON (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) 000-25597 (Commission File Number) 93-1261319 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

One SW Columbia Street, Suite 1200

Portland, Oregon 97258

(address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(503) 727-4100

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ]    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company [ ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On April 16, 2018, Umpqua Holdings Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary Umpqua Bank announced that Executive Vice President Tory Nixon, age 56, has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer, overseeing Umpqua Bank’s retail, home lending, commercial and wealth management business lines. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

Mr. Nixon served as Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial & Wealth for Umpqua Bank from October 2016 to April 2018. From November 2015 to October 2016, Mr. Nixon served as Executive Vice President/Commercial Banking for Umpqua Bank. Before joining Umpqua Bank, Mr. Nixon served as a Division President of California Bank & Trust.

Mr. Nixon entered into an employment agreement effective November 23, 2015, and a first amendment to his employment agreement on December 31, 2017. A description of the first amendment is set forth in the Form 8-K filed January 5, 2018, and a copy of such first amendment is set forth as Exhibit 10.7 to the Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2018. Mr. Nixon’s employment agreement is set forth as Exhibit 10.8 to the Form 10-K filed February 23, 2017. Mr. Nixon’s employment agreement was not amended in connection with his promotion to Chief Banking Officer.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press release dated April 16, 2018

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	UMPQUA HOLDINGS CORPORATION (Registrant)
Dated:  April 16, 2018	By:/s/ Andrew H. Ognall Andrew H. Ognall Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

EX-99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Kurt Heath

503-219-6124

KurtHeath@umpquabank.com

Umpqua Bank Promotes Tory Nixon to SEVP, Chief Banking Officer
to Advance Human-Digital Banking Strategy

PORTLAND, Ore., (April 16, 2018)—Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDQ: UMPQ), announced today that Tory Nixon has been promoted to senior executive vice president and chief banking officer. As Umpqua’s first chief banking officer, Nixon will oversee all customer-facing bank divisions and focus on creating a seamless, human-digital customer experience across the company’s retail, home lending, commercial and wealth management business lines.

Nixon’s promotion comes as Umpqua plans a bank-wide rollout in 2018 of its human-digital banking strategy, which it unveiled last fall to redefine how people and businesses bank in the 21^st century. According to Umpqua president and CEO Cort O’Haver, the new position and Nixon’s elevation in leadership reflect an important step forward in executing on Umpqua’s vision to build a customer experience driven by innovative banking platforms that deepen human connection and add value to banking relationships.

“Tory is one of the most insightful bank executives around and has a passion for aligning people, expertise, and services to create an exceptional customer experience,” said O’Haver. “As we prepare to roll out our human-digital banking model later this year, Tory’s leadership and understanding of what makes a banking relationship truly meaningful will be tremendous assets for Umpqua.”

Nixon joined Umpqua in 2016 as executive vice president and head of commercial & wealth. In just two years under his leadership, Umpqua expanded both divisions, increasing profitability and improving customer experience through enhanced market segmentation, customer focus, professional expertise and operational efficiency. Among other accomplishments, Nixon launched Umpqua’s corporate banking division to serve the complex banking needs of middle-market companies, recruiting top talent and expanding into Southern California. He also led the formation of Umpqua Capital Markets to provide strategic advice and transaction execution to growth-oriented companies. For wealth management, Nixon led a significant expansion of Umpqua’s capabilities and team, including the introduction to new markets across Southern California. Additionally, he brought market research and investment strategy in house to support the growing sophistication of Umpqua’s investment solutions for high net worth individuals and institutional clients.

Previously, Nixon served as division president and managing director for California Bank & Trust in San Diego and Northern California. He also played for the San Francisco Forty-Niners from 1985-1989 and was a member of the Super Bowl XXIII Championship team. Nixon holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.About Umpqua Bank
Umpqua Bank, headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, and has locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine's list of the country's "100 Best Companies to Work For," and was recently named by The Portland Business Journal the Most Admired Financial Services Company in Oregon for the thirteenth consecutive year. In addition to its retail banking presence, Umpqua Bank also owns Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc., a nationally recognized commercial finance company that provides equipment leases to businesses. A subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, Umpqua Investments, Inc., provides retail brokerage and investment advisory services in offices throughout Washington, Oregon, and California.