BancPlus Corporation, the parent company of BankPlus, created a leadership succession plan that positions the company to continue driving significant growth for its customers, communities, team members and shareholders.
B. Bryan Jones III has been elected to succeed Thomas G. Peaster as chairman of the board of directors of BancPlus Corporation and BankPlus effective Sept. 20. Peaster will move into the role of senior chairman of the corporation and BankPlus, having served as chairman of the board since 1987. “On behalf of the company, I would like to thank Tommy for his leadership as chairman over the past 35 years and for positioning BancPlus Corporation for continued success ahead,” William A. Ray, president and CEO of BancPlus, said.
In addition, William A. Ray was elected vice-chairman of the board of directors of BancPlus Corporation and BankPlus, and Randall E. Howard will remain as vice-chairman and lead director of BancPlus Corporation and BankPlus.
As lead director, Howard noted that these changes are the outcome of a comprehensive, long-term succession planning process conducted by the board of directors of BancPlus.
Jones has served as a director of the company since 2000. At the time of his retirement in 2019, Jones was Senior executive vice president and chief private banking officer of BankPlus and had held various executive management positions during his 47 years with the company.
“I have appreciated the opportunity to serve on the board in a number of roles over the past 22 years,” Jones said. “Collectively, the board and executive management are among the best in the business, which gives me great confidence in the future success of BancPlus Corporation.”
In addition, Eugene F. “Jack” Webb, Jr., chief banking officer of BankPlus, was named president of BankPlus effective Aug. 1, 2022, and elected to the board of directors of BancPlus Corporation and BankPlus effective Sept. 20, 2022. Webb will also assume the role of CEO of BankPlus effective Jan. 1, 2023. At that time, Ray, president and CEO of BancPlus Corporation and CEO of BankPlus will continue as president and CEO of BancPlus Corporation. Ray’s role will be focused on strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, intrinsic growth and capital management. Under Ray’s leadership as president and CEO of BankPlus since 1986, BankPlus has grown from $90 million in total assets to more than $6.6 billion in total assets as of June 30, 2022, with more than 90 locations and more than 1,200 employees.
