Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ:ABCB) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain OfficersItem 5.02
On December 6, 2017, Ameris Bancorp (the “Company”) issued a news release announcing that, effective as of January 1, 2018, Dennis J. Zember Jr. has been appointed to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Ameris Bank, the wholly owned banking subsidiary of the Company. Mr. Zember, 48, has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ameris Bank since June 2016. From February 2005 until June 2016, Mr. Zember served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of both the Company and Ameris Bank. In addition to his new role with Ameris Bank, Mr. Zember will continue to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
The Company also announced that Nicole S. Stokes has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Ameris Bank. Ms. Stokes, 43, joined the Company in December 2010 as Senior Vice President and Controller and was previously promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ameris Bank in June 2016. Her promotion is also effective as of January 1, 2018.
At the effective time of these promotions, Mr. Zember’s base salary will be increased from $375,000 to $500,000, and Ms. Stokes’ base salary will be increased from $200,000 to $300,000. There are no other arrangements or understandings between either Mr. Zember or Ms. Stokes and any other person to which they have been appointed to their respective positions. Neither Mr. Zember nor Ms. Stokes has any family relationships that are required to be disclosed under Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K, and neither of them is a party to any transaction requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Additionally, the Company reported in its news release that Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., who has been Chief Executive Officer of Ameris Bank since January 2005, will remain President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, titles he has also held since that time, and will also assume the role of Executive Chairman of both the Company and Ameris Bank as of January 1, 2018. The Company also announced that Daniel B. Jeter, who has served as Chairman of the Board since May 2007, has been appointed by the Company’s board of directors to serve as lead independent director as well.
The Company’s news release announcing these changes is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| 99.1 | Press release dated December 6, 2017. |
Ameris Bancorp ExhibitEX-99.1 2 tv481148_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Ameris Bancorp Announces Executive Team PromotionsMOULTRIE,…To view the full exhibit click here
About Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ:ABCB)
Ameris Bancorp is a financial holding company. The Company’s business is conducted through its banking subsidiary, Ameris Bank (the Bank), which provides a range of banking services to its retail and commercial customers. The Company operates through four segments: the Banking Division, the Retail Mortgage Division, the Warehouse Lending Division and the SBA Division. The Banking Division is engaged in the delivery of financial services, which include commercial loans, consumer loans and deposit accounts. The Retail Mortgage Division is engaged in the origination, sales and servicing of one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. The Warehouse Lending Division is engaged in the origination and servicing of warehouse lines to other businesses that are secured by underlying one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. The SBA Division is engaged in the origination, sales and servicing of small business administration (SBA) loans.
