Carlos Iafigliola Appointed Interim CEO, Effective Immediately
Amerant Bancorp Inc. (NYSE:AMTB) (the "Company" or "Bank" or "Amerant") today announced that the Company's Board of Directors ("Board") and Jerry Plush, Chairman and CEO, have mutually agreed for him to step down, effective November 5, 2025. The Board has appointed Carlos Iafigliola, Senior Executive Vice President ("SEVP") and Chief Operating Officer ("COO"), Interim Chief Executive Officer ("Interim CEO"). In addition, Odilon Almeida Jr., who had been serving as Lead Independent Director, has been appointed Board Chair.
Mr. Iafigliola has nearly three decades of experience in the financial services industry. Most recently, he served as SEVP and COO at Amerant, where he successfully led the Bank's Core Conversion, the sale of the Company's Houston franchise and helped to streamline operations. He has also been instrumental in advancing all efforts of the Company's ongoing digital transformation and operational modernization. In addition to these achievements, he managed critical areas such as loan and deposit operations, treasury management, technology and digital services, and project management, while also overseeing branch expansion. Prior to his tenure as COO, Mr. Iafigliola held roles of progressive responsibility, including Asset & Liability Manager and Treasury Manager, until he was named Chief Financial Officer in 2020. He started his career as a Market Risk Analyst at Mercantil Servicios Financieros, Amerant's holding company prior to the IPO.
Chair of the Board, Mr. Almeida Jr., commented, "After careful consideration, the Board and Jerry mutually determined that now is the right time to make this leadership transition. The foundation of the Bank's multi-year transformation has been established and the Board expects that this change will enable Amerant to advance its growth strategy while improving operational efficiency, supported by a robust risk management culture. On behalf of the Board, we thank Jerry for his years of service and contributions to Amerant, including implementing our relationship-first approach with our customers, while significantly elevating Amerant's brand awareness in the markets we serve."
Mr. Almeida Jr. continued, "As we look to the next chapter in Amerant's transformation and growth, we are excited for Carlos to step into this leadership role. He is well-equipped to lead the Company, given his years of experience with the Bank and his vast knowledge of the business. The Board is confident that Carlos will drive the execution of our strategy, with a particular focus on enhancing risk management and improving the cost structure of the Bank. The Board is fully supportive of Carlos and the management team, and expects them to take all necessary actions to ensure that we make meaningful progress on our strategy, even in this interim period."
"I am honored to be named Interim CEO of Amerant to help lead the Bank through its next phase of sustainable and profitable growth," commented Carlos Iafigliola. "Since I joined Amerant in 2004, the Bank has gone through significant change that has strengthened its foundation. I look forward to working closely with the executive team and the Board to build on our strong base and achieve the strategic and financial performance we know we are capable of as the bank of choice in the markets we serve."
The Board, with the support of a leading global executive search firm, will conduct a search to identify a permanent CEO, which is expected to include external candidates and Mr. Iafigliola. The Board's actions today do not relate to any disagreement with Mr. Plush regarding Amerant's policies or to any ethical or compliance concern.
About Amerant Bancorp Inc. (NYSE:AMTB)
Amerant Bancorp Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida since 1979. The Company operates through its main subsidiary, Amerant Bank, N.A. (the "Bank"), as well as its other subsidiary Amerant Investments, Inc. The Company provides individuals and businesses with deposit, credit and wealth management services. The Bank, which has operated for over 45 years, is headquartered in Florida and has a network of 22 banking centers – 20 in South Florida and 2 in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit investor.amerantbank.com.
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