Money Talk: Simmons, Centennial Announce Leadership Promotions

Editor’s note: Each Monday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Money Talk,” a wrap-up of banking and financial news.

FIS CEO TO HEADLINE LR CHAMBER 150TH ANNUAL MEETING: Gary Norcross, President and Chief Executive Officer of FIS, a Fortune 500 global banking and payments technology company, will be the featured speaker at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 150th Annual Meeting on Dec. 17 at the Statehouse Convention Center. Norcross joined FIS in 2003 through the acquisition of Alltel Information Services, where he served as president of the Integrated Financial Solutions division and other key leadership roles. Under Norcross’ leadership, FIS has grown to more than 42,000 employees and over $6 billion in global annual revenue. For more information, visit LittleRockChamber.com.

SIMMONS ANNOUNCES NEW COMMUNITY PRESIDENTS OF FORT SMITH, NWA OPERATIONS: Simmons Bank has named Greg Martin and Rodney West to serve as community presidents for the bank’s operations in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith area, respectively. Martin, of Fayetteville, is succeeding James Stobaugh, who will continue to serve Simmons in an advisory role until he retires from banking at the end of 2016. Fort Smith resident West is replacing Mike Flynn, who is retiring at the end of the year.

In addition, Dennis Ferguson, will now serve Simmons in the role of community executive with extensive lending and operational responsibilities in Northwest Arkansas. Simmons also announced the addition of Trey Gage of Charleston as a loan officer specializing in agricultural lending in the Fort Smith area.

CENTENNIAL BANK EXPANDS JONESBORO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM: Centennial Bank has expanded its Northeast Arkansas banking operations with the promotion of Selena Barber to senior vice president and business development officer, and the addition of Harold Copenhaver as vice president of business development.

Barber has over 14 years’ banking experience in marketing and business development and previously served Centennial Bank’s marketing communications officer. Her new responsibilities will include cultivating new customer relationships, providing customer service for existing customers, and community involvement. Copenhaver has over three decades of management, sales and business experience with a specialty in commercial insurance, and previously was co-partner and operator of a statewide agency specializing in insurance for churches.

Barber and Copenhaver, along with Business Development Officer Bethany Noto, will operate from Centennial Bank’s Northeast Arkansas headquarters in Jonesboro.