George Makris Jr. will retire as chairman and CEO of Simmons Bank and Simmons First National Corporation at the end of 2025, the corporation announced Monday morning.
Jay Brogdon, president of the corporation and bank, will assume the role of CEO and join the board of directors effective Jan. 1. Marty Casteel, the bank’s former chairman, CEO and president, and current director of the corporation and bank, will become chairman of both entities on Jan. 1.
“It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman and CEO of Simmons, and I am grateful for the support of the Board and all of our associates,” Makris said in a news release. “Together, we have worked to build a regional bank people value and trust, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished. The Board and I are confident the time is right for this transition, and Jay is well-prepared to succeed in his new role. Marty has been a trusted colleague for many years and is eminently qualified to serve as independent Chairman. I look forward to seeing continued progress toward building shareholder value through the achievement of our ambitious strategic objectives.”
Steve Cosse, lead independent director of the corporation, expressed in the release thanks to Makris for his tenure as CEO, adding Makris saw a “geographic transformation that led to a period of unprecedented growth, often during complex and challenging environments.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Cosse added: “Under George’s leadership, the Board has taken a deliberate and measured approach to succession planning. As a result, Simmons has developed a talented executive leadership team with a long runway.”
Brogdon has been president since January 2023. He oversees all revenue lines, finance, operations, information technology and corporate strategy.
Brogdon joined Simmons in 2021 as chief financial officer after working at Stephens Inc. for 13 years and Deloitte for four. He was managing director in the investment banking division at Stephens.
“I am honored to lead Simmons and humbled to follow in the footsteps of George, Tommy May and the many incredible leaders who came before me,” Brogdon said. “One of those leaders is Marty, who is well-respected throughout our industry. I look forward to working with him given the wealth of knowledge and expertise he brings from his 30-plus year career in banking.
“Simmons is committed to building value for our customers, communities and shareholders, and our team does this with great integrity and passion. We will continue to build upon our longstanding culture and are excited about the opportunities ahead.”