---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001649739-23-000067"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BAFN"
cik: "0001649739"
company_name: "BayFirst Financial Corp."
filed_at: "2023-02-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T00:08:55.442132+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# BayFirst Financial CEO Anthony Leo to retire at end of 2023; Thomas Zernick named successor

## Summary
- Anthony N. Leo to retire as CEO effective Dec 31, 2023; will remain Director and serve as Special Counsel.
- Thomas G. Zernick, current President, appointed CEO effective Jan 1, 2024, and joins Board immediately.
- Zernick joined BayFirst in 2016, led CreditBench SBA lending division; served as President since Feb 2022.
- Chairman notes BayFirst grew from $69M to nearly $1B in assets under Leo's leadership.
- Succession follows board-led planning with independent management consultant.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001649739-23-000067
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BAFN
- cik: 0001649739
- company_name: BayFirst Financial Corp.
- filed_at: 2023-02-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1649739/000164973923000067/0001649739-23-000067-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1649739/000164973923000067/bafn-20230206.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001649739-23-000067
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001649739-23-000067.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001649739-23-000067.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Thomas G. Zernick was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at BayFirst Financial Corp..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: The Board of Directors has appointed Thomas G. Zernick to succeed Leo as Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1649739/000164973923000067/0001649739-23-000067-index.htm
- Executive change
  Thomas G. Zernick was appointed as Director at BayFirst Financial Corp..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: He was also appointed to serve as a Director of the Company, and is joining the Company's Board effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1649739/000164973923000067/0001649739-23-000067-index.htm
- Executive change
  Anthony N. Leo departed as Chief Executive Officer at BayFirst Financial Corp..
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On February 6, 2023, BayFirst Financial Corp. issued a press release announcing that Anthony N. Leo will retire as Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1649739/000164973923000067/0001649739-23-000067-index.htm
- Executive change
  Anthony N. Leo changed role as Special Counsel at BayFirst Financial Corp..
  - Action: serve
  - Role: Special Counsel
  source text: Leo will remain a Director of the Company and will also serve as Special Counsel for strategic matters.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1649739/000164973923000067/0001649739-23-000067-index.htm

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