Simmons First National Announces CEO Retirement, James Brogdon to Replace George Makris as Chairman and CEO

Simmons First National Corporation announced the retirement of George A. Makris, Jr. as Chairman and CEO, effective December 31, 2025. James M. Brogdon will assume the roles of President and CEO on January 1, 2026, while Marty D. Casteel will become Chairman. The company is confident in Brogdon’s ability to continue building value for stakeholders. Simmons 1st Nat’l receives a score of 69.7, reflecting a stable financial position with solid cash flow and strategic initiatives, but challenges in revenue growth and recent corporate events pose risks.

Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) has announced that George A. Makris, Jr., the current Chairman and CEO, will retire effective December 31, 2025. James M. Brogdon, who has been serving as President of Simmons First and Simmons Bank since January 2023, will assume the roles of President and CEO on January 1, 2026. Marty D. Casteel, a former Chairman, CEO, and President of Simmons Bank with over 30 years of experience in the industry, will become the new Chairman of both entities [3].

Makris, who has been with the company since 1997 and served as CEO since 2014, has overseen the company’s geographic transformation and growth, often during complex and challenging environments. He is credited with developing a talented executive leadership team with a long runway [1][2][3].

Brogdon, who joined Simmons in 2021 as Chief Financial Officer, has a strong background in finance, having previously worked at Deloitte and Stephens Inc. He has been instrumental in overseeing all revenue lines, finance, operations, information technology, and corporate strategy during his tenure as President [1][2][3].

Casteel, who will take on the role of Chairman, has extensive experience in the banking industry and is well-respected within the field. His appointment reflects the company's deliberate and measured approach to succession planning [1][2][3].

The company's financial performance during the second quarter of 2025, as reported in its Form 10-Q, indicates a stable financial position with solid cash flow. However, challenges in revenue growth and recent corporate events pose potential risks [4].

The leadership transition is seen as a positive step forward by the company, which is committed to building value for its customers, communities, and shareholders. The company's longstanding culture and integrity are expected to continue under the new leadership [3].

References:
1. [1] https://katv.com/news/local/simmons-bank-chairman-and-ceo-to-step-down-at-end-of-2025-katv-news-community-share-inform
2. [2] https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/simmons-bank-ceo-retirement-leadership-transition-george-makris-jay-brogdon/
3. [3] https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/simmons-first-national-corporation-announces-ceo-retirement-and-leadership-transition
4. [4] https://www.tradingview.com/news/tradingview:af79f01a270b7:0-simmons-first-national-corp-sec-10-q-report/