Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank has hired Sara Imes to serve as chief audit executive. She will develop and implement a risk-based audit plan while overseeing the planning, design, implementation, communication and delivery of audit initiatives across the organization. In addition, she will partner with all levels of management and cross-functional teams to strengthen internal controls and support risk management functions. She will maintain an office at Origin Bank’s Hall Park financial center, 3201 Dallas Pkwy., Ste. 100, in Frisco.

Imes has more than 16 years of experience in the banking industry. Before joining Origin Bank, she was executive vice president/chief audit executive at Independent Financial for more than six years. Prior to that, she served as senior vice president/audit director at Hilltop Holdings in Dallas for more than nine years. She started out as an audit senior at EY (Ernst & Young LLP) in Dallas.

Imes earned a BBA degree and an MS degree in accounting from Texas Tech University. She is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Dallas chapter, and is a certified fiduciary and investment risk specialist (Cannon Financial Institute), certified internal auditor (Institute of Internal Auditors) and a certified public accountant (Texas State Board of Public Accountancy). She supports a variety of community nonprofit organizations, including the North Texas Food Bank.

Established in 1912, Origin Bank operates more than 55 locations in Dallas/Fort Worth, East Texas, Houston, North Louisiana, Mississippi, South Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.