With Randy Sims retirement, Home Bancshares shuffles management

Conway-based Home BancShares, Inc., parent company of Centennial Bank, announced Thursday (Nov. 7) that Jack Engelkes, Director of Home BancShares, has been named as Vice-Chairman of Home BancShares and Tracy French, President and Chief Executive Officer of Centennial Bank, has also been named as Chairman of Centennial Bank.

Home BancShares Chairman John Allison will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Home BancShares.

These positions are being filled by the retirement of Randy Sims.

Over the past 20 years, Sims has served as Executive Chairman and President of Centennial Bank as well as President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Home BancShares.

“The past twenty-plus years have been the best of my life, from starting our first office in a mobile home to being named Forbes Best Bank in America,” Sims said. “However, at 65 years of age, it is now time for me to concentrate and spend time with my incredible wife, my five children and six grandchildren and the life adventures ahead of us,” added Sims.

“I appreciate the many years of service that Randy Sims committed to this organization, and we all wish him much happiness in his retirement,” Allison said.

“Jack was one of our founding Directors at Centennial Bank and has been a Director of Home BancShares since 2004,” said Allison. “He serves on several committees and has poured countless hours into serving our organization. He has a great deal of knowledge of the operations of this company and cares about its success. I am very pleased to have Jack step into the role of Vice-Chairman of Home BancShares.”

“I’m also very pleased that Tracy French will serve as Chairman of Centennial Bank, in addition to his current responsibilities with the Bank,” Allison added.