Len GrahamOne of the founding directors of Bradley County's second-biggest bank will retire as the bank's chairman next week.
Len Graham, one of the 13 original directors who helped organize Southern Heritage Bank in 1999, is stepping down Tuesday as the board chairman. He will be succeeded by Lee Stewart, the bank's CEO since its start.
As part of the bank changes, the No. 2 staffer at Southern Heritage, Steve Ledbetter, will be promoted from executive vice president to president and chief operating officer and Cleveland attorney Bryson M. Kirksey will join the bank's board.
Graham served as the bank's chairman since 2008, succeeding the late Dr. Eddie Duncan, who was the original board chair.
Graham, who helped negotiate the $32 million sale of Southern Heritage last year to First Citizens National Bank in Dyersberg, called the new parent company "an outstanding corporate partner with many shared values" and said the merger has provided "additional strength and experience" for the Cleveland bank.
Southern Heritage has maintained its own name, board and management as a part of First Citizens, Tennessee's 7th biggest bank.
Southern Heritage Bank has more than $250 million in assets and operates three branches.
Graham's board seat will be filled by Kirksey, a partner with the law firm of Burns, Henry & Kirksey PC in Cleveland.
Stewart, who will become bank chairman as well as his current position of CEO, has more than 40 years of banking experience. He began his career in 1972 at American National Bank in Chattanooga.
Ledbetter, the new president and chief operating officer for Southern Heritage, began his career as an auditor in 1974 with Arthur Andersen & Co. working in the audit, tax and management consulting divisions. He began his banking career in 1979 at Cleveland Bank & Trust.
"We are blessed to have leaders on our Southern Heritage team with the vision, experience and talents to lead our company into the future," said Jeff Agee, CEO of First Citizens Bank and board member of Southern Heritage Bank.