---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-24-255190"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SFNC"
cik: "0000090498"
company_name: "SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP"
filed_at: "2024-11-12T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-30T02:34:51.672631+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Simmons First National CEO Bob Fehlman to retire; George Makris Jr. returns as Chairman & CEO

## Summary
- CEO Bob Fehlman retiring Dec. 31, 2024, then advisory role through March 2025 after 36 years.
- Executive Chairman George Makris Jr. appointed Chairman & CEO effective Jan. 1, 2025.
- Makris to receive $1M base salary, target equity 150% of base, target cash bonus 100% of base.
- Christopher Van Steenberg hired as COO effective Nov. 12, 2024, from First Horizon.
- Van Steenberg gets $225k signing bonus, 20k RSUs (5-yr vest), $450k base salary.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-24-255190
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SFNC
- cik: 0000090498
- company_name: SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP
- filed_at: 2024-11-12T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/90498/000119312524255190/0001193125-24-255190-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/90498/000119312524255190/d853301d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-255190
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-255190.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-255190.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Christopher J. Van Steenberg was appointed as Chief Operating Officer at SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Operating Officer
  source text: the Board appointed Christopher J. Van Steenberg (age 54) as the Company’s chief operating officer, effective November 12, 2024
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/90498/000119312524255190/0001193125-24-255190-index.htm
- Executive change
  George A. Makris, Jr. was appointed as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Company’s board of directors (“Board”) appointed George A. Makris, Jr. (age 68) as chairman and chief executive officer of the Company, effective January 1, 2025
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/90498/000119312524255190/0001193125-24-255190-index.htm
- Executive change
  Robert A. Fehlman resigned as Chief Executive Officer at SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Robert A. Fehlman (age 60), the chief executive officer of Simmons First National Corporation (“Company”), provided the Company notice of his decision to resign from his position, effective as of the end of the day December 31, 2024, to focus on personal interests and family medical issues.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/90498/000119312524255190/0001193125-24-255190-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.