First Financial Bancorp announced several leadership promotions within the company recently, including some organizational changes that are designed to grow future leaders.
The changes will help rising talent, while placing future leaders in positions to learn from senior leaders, the company said, and to support thoughtful succession planning.
“Today’s announcement reflects the strength of our leadership team and our commitment to preparing First Financial for the future,” Archie Brown, chief executive officer, said. “We have exceptional leaders stepping into expanded roles, and these changes position us to continue growing while delivering an outstanding experience for our clients and associates. We have prioritized succession planning during the past several years and are taking these organizational steps in order to ensure that First Financial continues to grow and succeed.”
Brown, who has served as the company’s president and CEO since 2018, will continue as CEO of First Financial Bancorp, and First Financial Bank, focusing on strategy and execution. Jamie Anderson, the current CFO and COO of the company, will move to president of the company and the bank. In addition to his role as president, he will retain the title of CFO. Anderson previously served as CFO of MainSource Financial Group. In his new role as president, he will focus on the operational management and financial performance of the bank, reporting results to the board of directors.
“Jamie has been an integral part of First Financial’s growth and success,” Brown said. “He has provided critical financial counsel as the bank expanded our services and geographic reach through the recent acquisitions of several banks and specialty lending businesses. Jamie’s expertise and guidance have driven record financial results for the bank, and his leadership will enable us to continue delivering positive outcomes for our clients, associates, communities, and shareholders.”
Mandy Neeley will rise to chief banking officer and will lead the core bank’s revenue-producing businesses, including commercial, wealth, consumer and mortgage. Neeley has been with the company for 25 years, most recently as the chief consumer banking and strategy officer.
The company said Matt Reckman, chief commercial banking officer will see his responsibilities expand to include leadership of commercial credit, corporate banking, investment real estate, and Bannockburn Capital Markets. Reckman has more than 25 years of commercial banking experience and has been with the bank since 2015.
Karen Woods, the company’s general counsel and chief administration officer, will have her role expanded to include responsibility for credit administration and audit. Since joining the company in 2018, she has served as the company’s general counsel, and as the chief administration officer since 2022.
The promotions and responsibility expansions are effective immediately, the company said.