2 Union Bank Senior VPs Add Branch Responsibilities

Joseph Benoit, a senior vice president of Union Bank of California, has been named to oversee branches in the San Diego and Inland Empire area, as well as some offices in southern Orange County. George A. Ramirez, also a senior vice president, will manage offices in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Benoit most recently served as the division manager of Southern California commercial banking and was named a senior vice president in 1998. He joined Union Bank in 1992 as manager of the Golden Triangle office in San Diego. In 1996 he was promoted to division manager overseeing business banking in San Diego and in the Inland Empire. Ramirez was previously director of sales administration for the bank. He was named a senior vice president in 1998. Ramirez joined the bank in 1986 as a financial services officer.

* Syra Villarreal and Ricardo Villagran have been appointed creative directors at Mendoza, Dillon & Asociados Inc. in Newport Beach. Villarreal will continue to lead Hispanic and general market advertising for Mission Foods as well as Hispanic advertising for Warner Lambert. Villarreal joined the agency in 1994 as a copywriter. Villagran joined Mendoza, Dillon in 1999 as associate creative director after working at CC&A;, TeranTWBA, BBDO and Bates in Mexico. In addition, Joshua Eagle Patron was hired as senior art director. He was previously associate creative director at al Punto Advertising.