Robert B. Horsman

Trustee Emeritus

Robert B. Horsman retired in 2021 after serving as the chief banking officer and founding partner of Endeavor Bank. He has enjoyed a long and successful career in the banking industry. In 1981, Horsman was a founder of San Diego National Bank (SDNB), was appointed as president in 1996, and became CEO in 2000. During his 28-year tenure at SDNB, he helped the bank increase its asset base to more than $3.5 billion. After the acquisition of SDNB by U.S. Bank, Horsman served a two-year term as regional chairman of U.S. Bank until December 2011. Following this, he joined Torrey Pines Bank as market executive at their Symphony Towers office for two years. Horsman received a bachelor of science degree in finance/banking from Texas Tech University in 1970.

Horsman is active in serving the local community, has raised more than $75 million for local nonprofit organizations and academic institutions, and has held many leadership positions. He served served as chairman of the Kyoto Prize Symposium in 2009-2010, president of the San Diego Opera Board, director and chair of Scripps Mercy Hospital Foundation Board and co-chair of its $50 Million Campaign, chairman of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and trustee of the UC San Diego Foundation.

Horsman has been actively involved with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) for almost four decades. Prior to becoming a Trustee Emeritus in 2023, he served on SDZWA’s Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2022, and was the chairman from 2015 to 2017, in addition to chairing several committees during his tenure. He also served as vice chair of the SDZWA Foundation Board from 2008 to 2010, and was co-chair of the San Diego Zoo’s R·I·T·Z (Rendezvous In The Zoo) black-tie event in 2007.