Mr. Makris currently serves as Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Simmons First National Corporation (Simmons) and Simmons Bank. Mr. Makris previously served as the Chairman and CEO of Simmons and Simmons Bank until December 31, 2022. Prior to joining the bank in January 2013, the bank had operations in three states and total consolidated assets of approximately $3.5 billion. Today, the company stretches across a six-state footprint with approximately $27.6 billion in assets. 

Previously, Mr. Makris had been employed by M.K. Distributors, Inc., a family-owned wholesale distribution business, serving as president from 1985 to 2012. Mr. Makris served as a member of the board of directors of Worthen National Bank – Pine Bluff and successors from 1985 to 1996 and served as Chairman of the Board from 1994 to 1996. 

Mr. Makris also serves as a member of the board of trustees of Jefferson Regional Medical Center. He was recently appointed to represent the Eighth Federal Reserve District on the Federal Advisory Council to the Federal Reserve Board. He is a past Chairman of the board of directors of The Economic Development Corporation of Jefferson County, Arkansas. He has previously served as Chairman of the board of trustees of the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County, Chairman of the board of directors of the Greater Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the King Cotton Classic Basketball Tournament, Chairman of the board of trustees of Trinity Episcopal School, a director of Simmons First National Bank, a director of the Wholesale Beer Distributors of Arkansas, a director of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, a

Director of CHI St. Vincent. and a member of the board of visitors of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine.

Mr. Makris received a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Rhodes College in 1978 and an M.B.A. from the University of Arkansas in 1980.

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