---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001206774-23-000059"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SFST"
cik: "0001090009"
company_name: "SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC"
filed_at: "2023-01-27T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T07:03:06.107186+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Southern First Bancshares COO/CFO Michael D. Dowling resigns, effective Feb 15

## Summary
- COO and CFO Michael D. Dowling resigns effective February 15, 2023.
- Dowling leaves to lead a large medical group that is a client of Southern First Bank.
- No successor has been named; CEO expresses gratitude for his 12 years of service.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001206774-23-000059
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SFST
- cik: 0001090009
- company_name: SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC
- filed_at: 2023-01-27T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000059/0001206774-23-000059-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000059/southernfirst4157471-8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001206774-23-000059
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001206774-23-000059.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001206774-23-000059.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Michael D. Dowling departed as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC.
  - Action: resign
  - Role: Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On January 25, 2023, Michael D. Dowling, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) and Southern First Bank (the “Bank” and together with the Company, the “Employer”), notified the Employer that he is resigning from his roles with the Employer, effective February 15, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000059/0001206774-23-000059-index.htm

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