Edward H. Sondker on Thursday was named...

Edward H. Sondker on Thursday was named president and chief operating officer of La Jolla Bank & Trust and executive vice president of La Jolla Bancorp, the bank’s holding company.

He replaces George Ellis, founding president of the bank, which has $300 million in assets. Ellis will continue as chief executive and will assume the new title of board vice chairman.

Sondker was president and chief executive of Kansas City Bancshares, the $500-million-in-assets holding company for Bank of Kansas City. Sondker became president a year ago after the suicide of former President John Lucas. A group of investors led by Sondker tried to buy the company from Lucas’ estranged wife, who had assumed control of the firm. But, Sondker said in an interview, “she changed her mind” last month. “I advised her that I didn’t care to work with her, and I tendered my resignation.”