Form 8-K SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL For: Jan 12

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________

Form 8-K
_____________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): January 12, 2017  

Simmons First National Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

(870) 541-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

       On Thursday, January 12, 2017, the board of directors (“Board”) of Simmons First National Corporation (“Corporation”) approved an increase in the size of the Board from 11 to 13 members and the appointment of Jerry Hunter and Mindy West as directors of the Corporation. 

       Mr. Hunter was appointed to the Compensation Committee of the Board.  He is a partner in the St. Louis, Missouri, office of Bryan Cave LLP, an international law firm, where he conducts a labor and employment law practice.  Mr. Hunter previously served as general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, and he is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Washington University School of Law.

       Ms. West, a certified public accountant, was appointed to the Audit Committee of the Board.  She is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Murphy USA Inc., where she is responsible for the company’s finance and accounting functions.  Prior to joining Murphy USA Inc., she held various positions at Murphy Oil Corporation.  Ms. West has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Arkansas University.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

       On Friday, January 13, 2017, the Corporation issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Hunter and Ms. West to the Board.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

       Exhibit 99.1        Press Release issued by the Corporation on January 13, 2017. 

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1

Hunter, West Named to Simmons First National Corp. Board of Directors

PINE BLUFF, Ark., Jan. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jerry M. Hunter of St. Louis, Mo., and Mindy West of El Dorado, Ark., have been added to the Simmons First National Corp. (NASDAQ: SFNC) board of directors, it was announced today by Simmons’ Chairman and CEO, George Makris Jr.

Hunter is a partner in the St. Louis office of Bryan Cave LLP, a global law firm with 27 offices across North America, Europe and Asia. He served as the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board from 1989-93.

West serves as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer for Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA), which sells fuel and convenience merchandise in 1,400 stores around the country. With revenue in excess of $11 billion, Murphy USA was incorporated in 2013 when it spun off from Murphy Oil Corp. of El Dorado, which now focuses on oil exploration and production activities.

“Mindy and Jerry bring strong financial and legal skills to our board and will play key roles in guiding our growth in the years ahead,” Makris said. “Their insight will be invaluable as we continue to build one of the nation’s top regional banks.”

Hunter received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and his law degree from Washington University at St. Louis. He was admitted to the Arkansas bar in 1977 and the Missouri bar in 1978. Hunter was the labor counsel for the Kellwood Co. of St. Louis, a field attorney for the NLRB and a senior trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. From 1986-89, Hunter was the director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the department that enforced the state’s labor and employment laws and regulations. He also was a member of the Missouri State Employees Retirement System board and the chairman of its investment committee.

As the NLRB’s general counsel, Hunter oversaw the operations of 33 regional, two sub-regional and 17 resident offices. He represented the agency before federal district courts, appeals courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. At Bryan Cave, Hunter represents management in all phases of labor and employment law.

West, a certified public accountant and certified treasury professional, earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia. She worked 17 years for Murphy Oil Corp. and held positions in accounting, employee benefits, planning and investor relations. West was the company’s director of investor relations from July 2001 until December 2006 and its vice president and treasurer from January 2007 until August 2013, when she joined Murphy USA.

At Murphy USA, West is responsible for finance and accounting functions while leading numerous strategic initiatives for the company.

Simmons First National Corporation is a financial holding company, headquartered in Pine Bluff, Ark., with total assets of $8.2 billion conducting financial operations throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee.  The company through its subsidiaries offers comprehensive financial solutions delivered with a client-centric approach. The company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “SFNC.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
J. BURTON HICKS
SVP - Investor Relations Officer
Simmons First National Corporation
(870) 541-1000

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