First Bancorp Appoints New Executives

By Bobby Samwell • Tuesday, May 14 15:26 • Permanent Link

First Bancorp, the bank holding company with total assets of $12.1 billion, has announced strategic leadership changes aimed at enhancing its long-term strategic plan. The changes include the appointment of Christian Wilson as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Donna Ward as the Chief Transformation Officer, and Brent Hicks as the Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer.

Christian Wilson, who previously spent 10 years with Fiserv in New York City overseeing credit, fraud, and risk on a national and global scale, brings expertise in operations and strategy across cyber, controls, regulatory review, credit management, and fraud functions within financial services.

Donna Ward, who has been with First Bank for over 27 years, has assumed the new position of Chief Transformation Officer, focusing on change leadership and project management to prepare the bank and associates for enterprise-wide organizational changes accompanying continued growth.

Brent Hicks, an audit and risk expert with experience at BB&T/Truist and as the Chief Accounting Officer at a $26 billion bank, has joined the bank, bringing expertise that aligns directly with the bank's expansion plans. His appointment has led to Blaise Buczkowski shifting from Chief Accounting Officer responsibilities to the role of Executive Vice President of Corporate Finance, leading financial analysis, forecasting, integration, and planning functions for the bank.

These changes are seen as a strategic move to integrate and align talent in key areas of the bank as it continues to grow and navigate change. Mike Mayer, President of First Bancorp and First Bank Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the commitment to excellence in both internal operations and external service delivery.

First Bancorp has received accolades in 2023, including being named a top employer by Business NC Magazine and one of the top 10 best performing banks by S&P Global, among others. The company is focused on continuing its strong legacy with these strategic leadership changes.

First Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of First Bancorp, operates 113 branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and provides tailored banking solutions, local expertise, and technology for home or business management. Today the company's shares have moved -0.7% to a price of $31.53. For the full picture, make sure to review First Bancorp's 8-K report.

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