Simmons First National Announces CEO Retirement and Succession Plan

George Makris Jr. will retire as Chairman and CEO of Simmons First National and Simmons Bank at the end of 2025. Jay Brogdon will assume the CEO role and join the boards of directors effective January 1, 2026. Marty Casteel will become Chairman of both entities. Brogdon has served as President since January 2023, overseeing revenue lines, finance, operations, and corporate strategy.

Simmons First National Corp., a major regional bank spanning six states, has announced a significant leadership transition. Effective January 1, 2026, George Makris Jr., the current Chairman and CEO, will retire after a decade-plus tenure. Jay Brogdon, the current President, will assume the CEO role and join the board of directors, while Marty Casteel will become Chairman of both entities [1].

Makris, who has been instrumental in the company's geographic transformation and growth, will step down at the end of 2025. His leadership has been marked by a deliberate and measured approach to succession planning, resulting in the development of a talented executive leadership team with a long runway [3].

Brogdon, who has been with the company since 2021, has served as President since January 2023, overseeing all revenue lines, finance, operations, information technology, and corporate strategy. Before joining Simmons, he spent 13 years at Stephens Inc. and four years at Deloitte [2, 3]. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to relieve uncertainty and provide confidence in the company's forward outlook [3].

Casteel, a former Chairman, CEO, and President of Simmons Bank with over 30 years of experience, will take over as Chairman. His extensive experience and in-depth understanding of Simmons First National Corp. (SFNC) will be an invaluable resource for Brogdon as he takes the helm [3].

This transition reflects the company's commitment to building shareholder value and achieving its ambitious strategic objectives. The leadership moves are part of a deliberate and measured approach to succession planning that has been in place under Makris' leadership [1, 3].

References:

[1] https://katv.com/news/local/simmons-bank-chairman-and-ceo-to-step-down-at-end-of-2025-katv-news-community-share-inform
[2] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/simmons-first-chairman-ceo-george-makris-jr-to-retire-2a297380
[3] https://www.bankingdive.com/news/simmons-ceo-george-makris-to-retire-next-chief-jay-brogdon-marty-casteel/756837/