LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Aug. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Simmons Bank (Simmons), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ: SFNC),
announced today the addition of an experienced 11-member commercial
finance team led by industry veterans Lee
Palm, Brian Shapiro and
Phil Mulder.
![Simmons Bank (PRNewsfoto/Simmons Bank) Simmons Bank (PRNewsfoto/Simmons Bank)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1162638/Simmons_Bank.jpg)
Palm will lead the group as president of Simmons' new Commercial
Finance business unit. Shapiro will serve as managing director
heading up the transportation and marine business, while Mulder
will oversee the credit function as the division's head of credit
and risk. Palm, Shapiro and Mulder are all financial industry
veterans brought aboard to lead Simmons new equipment finance team
that will primarily focus on business aviation, OTR trucking,
franchise finance, marine financing, and a specialized buy/sell
desk function, all adding expertise in support of commercial loans
and leases to customers in the middle market and large corporate
finance space. Filling out the 11-member team are other long-time
industry veteran commercial finance experts that bring demonstrated
experience in sales and credit.
"Lee brings extensive industry experience building and leading
successful commercial finance businesses and the relationships he's
developed will benefit Simmons as we look to further expand and
diversify our commercial banking capabilities," said Matt Reddin, executive vice president and chief
banking officer at Simmons.
"Being able to add an entire team with the expertise and
skillset that encompasses all of the business verticals necessary
to begin operations represents a unique 'plug and play' opportunity
that will allow us to immediately hit the ground running," added
Reddin "Equally important, we'll be able to offer our commercial
finance customers a deeper banking relationship with access to our
full array of complementary commercial banking and wealth
management products and services."
Palm most recently served as president of commercial finance at
TCF Bank, a $50 billion asset bank
formed through the merger of Chemical Bank and TCF Bank. In this
role, he developed a successful de novo business plan to establish
a commercial lending business targeting corporate aviation, inland
marine and rail, trucking, healthcare finance and franchise
finance.
"Having had multiple opportunities to start-up significant and
successful platforms for both banks and large commercial finance
companies, my role will be to utilize the strong capital base
afforded us and to replicate those successes as we weave our group
into the fabric of Simmons," Palm said. "I'm excited about leading
a high-performance team of commercial finance professionals to
brand our bank in key areas of expertise that will contribute to
Simmons' long-term growth strategies designed to build shareholder
value."
About the Commercial Finance Team
Lee Palm
Palm has over three decades of success building profitable,
diversified de novo businesses by assembling teams of
high-performance, industry expert professionals that come together
to deliver superior results in the area of growth and
profitability. His experience starting and building businesses for
high profile corporations in the U.S. include Transamerica, GMAC,
Prudential Capital, Talmer Bank, and
most recently Chemical/TCF Bank.
Brian Shapiro
Shapiro has over three decades as a leader in the commercial
finance and leasing arena. He has successfully built large,
profitable and growth businesses for companies including
Borg Warner, Pitney Bowes, GMAC,
Prudential Capital, Talmer Bank and
most recently Chemical/TCF Bank.
Phil Mulder
Mulder has more than 20 years of experience with a broad
background in commercial credit and risk management experience from
both JPMorgan and Citizens Financial Group. For the past 10 years
he has led a commercial finance underwriting and portfolio
management team responsible for the western U.S. and industry
verticals. His experience encompasses a full range of clients
from middle market to large corporate across all commercial finance
industries with specialties in rail, corporate aircraft and
indirect lending. His primary focus has been on risk management,
deal structure and credit policy
Tom Vasilakos
Vasilakos is a commercial finance and banking veteran with more
than 30 years of experience. A high-impact leader who uses proven
business-building abilities to enhance relationships and drive
growth in highly competitive environments. His career trajectory
began as an award-winning top line salesman to several highly
successful leadership roles, Vasilakos brings a wide breadth of
experiential knowledge to the team.
Rick Riecker
Riecker is a restaurant financing industry veteran with over 20
years of experience, including leading several national franchise
finance groups. Additionally, Riecker brings a broad range of
finance knowledge and expertise focused on the QSR and the health
and fitness segments.
Chuck Fletcher
Fletcher is a seasoned financial sales executive specializing in
the branded retail, franchise industry. During his career that
spans more than 25 years with both asset based and securitized
lenders, he has sourced, negotiated and closed more than
$1.5 billion in loan originations,
primarily to small and mid-sized food service franchisees.
Cabel Finch
Finch has over 20 years of experience covering all facets of
franchise lending including credit, special assets, business
development and capital markets. In addition, he brings deep
expertise in C&I and real estate finance in the franchise
restaurant and retail energy sectors.
Andy Chiarenzelli
Chiarenzelli brings 24 years of major account experience in
commercial finance with GE Capital, Caterpillar Financial, BMO, and
since 2016 with the Chemical/TCF Bank commercial finance team. His
career has primarily revolved around building and managing
relationships with trucking and construction companies in the
middle market and larger corporate segments across the United States.
Jim Lewis
Lewis is a licensed aircraft technician with more than 30 years
of experience in the business/corporate aircraft segment, including
20 years at Net Jets, a premier fractional aircraft ownership
company, where he served as executive vice president and
maintenance director and executive vice president of aircraft sales
and acquisitions. Lewis has spent the past 7 years in aviation
finance with the commercial finance team.
Larry Roegner
Roegner has more than 30 years of experience in credit,
underwriting and managing portfolios for middle market and large
corporate clients. His underwriting expertise covers a diverse
spectrum including commercial finance, asset based lending and
large ticket structured corporate finance transactions.
David Lyle
Lyle brings 25 years of experience as an equipment finance
professional. He is well versed in all debt and lease structures
with a strong emphasis on developing and maintaining long-term
relationships in the transportation, construction and inland and
offshore marine space.
About Simmons
Bank
Simmons Bank is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Simmons First National Corporation
(NASDAQ: SFNC), a Mid-South based financial holding company with
approximately $23.4 billion in assets
as of June 30, 2021. Simmons Bank operates 198 branches, including 68
in Arkansas, 48 in Missouri, 33 in Tennessee, 23 in Texas, 20 in Oklahoma and 6 in Kansas. Founded in 1903, Simmons Bank offers comprehensive financial
solutions delivered with a client-centric approach. Simmons Bank was recently named
to Forbes magazine's list of "World's Best
Banks" for the second consecutive year and ranked among the
top 30 banks in Forbes' list of "America's
Best Banks" for 2021. Additional information about
Simmons Bank can be found on our
website at simmonsbank.com, by
following @Simmons_Bank on Twitter or by visiting
our newsroom.
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