Jerry Plush Departs Amerant Bancorp CEO Position; New Leadership Structure Takes Effect

Amerant Bancorp Inc., a major bank holding company, announced significant changes to its executive leadership in late 2024. Jerry Plush, who has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has officially exited his role, effective November 2024. The transition marks a major shift in the company’s leadership structure.

To manage operations during this period, the Board of Directors has elevated Carlos Iafigliola, formerly the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), to the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer. Simultaneously, Odilon Almeida Jr., previously serving as Lead Independent Director, has been designated as the new Board Chair, further reshaping the company’s governance.

The Board of Directors is actively pursuing a permanent successor for Jerry Plush, partnering with an executive search firm to identify the best candidate. The recruitment process is notably inclusive, considering both external candidates and internal prospects, with Iafigliola remaining a contender for the permanent CEO position.

Iafigliola brings substantial experience to his expanded role. Before assuming the COO title at Amerant Bancorp, he held positions as Asset & Liability Manager and Treasury Manager. His professional journey began at Mercantil Servicios Financieros, the company that served as Amerant’s holding company prior to its initial public offering (IPO), where he worked as a Market Risk Analyst.

This management restructuring reflects the organization’s commitment to maintaining continuity while identifying long-term leadership that will guide the institution forward. The appointment of Iafigliola as interim leader demonstrates the Board’s confidence in promoting from within, while the comprehensive search for a permanent CEO ensures the company can capitalize on both internal talent and external expertise to meet evolving market demands.