Chris Holmes named FirstBank chief

Veteran banker and Lexington, Tenn., native Chris Holmes on Monday became the third president of FirstBank since it was purchased by businessman Jim Ayers in 1984. Doug Cruickshanks, who has served as FirstBank president since 2002, will become vice chairman of the bank’s board of directors.

Ayers said the leadership change “is the culmination of a well-executed two-year transition plan” for the $2.1 billion-asset bank. FirstBank is the largest state-chartered bank in Tennessee with 54 locations, including three branches in Chattanooga and one each in Cleveland and Dayton, Tenn.