Southern First adds Bryan Kennedy to its board
Southern First Bancshares, Inc. reported that effective June 1, 2026, its Boards of Directors appointed Bryan Kennedy as a director of both the company and Southern First Bank.
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Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Southern First Bancshares, Inc. reported that effective June 1, 2026, its Boards of Directors appointed Bryan Kennedy as a director of both the company and Southern First Bank. He will also serve on the Boards’ Risk Committee and receive the standard compensation for non-employee directors.
The Boards highlight Mr. Kennedy’s 43-year commercial banking career, including senior roles at SouthState Bank and the founding of Park Sterling Bank, as well as his ongoing role as Lead Independent Director of The Cato Corporation. They believe his experience and ties to the Charlotte market will strengthen board oversight and support the Bank’s key growth market.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
Item 5.02 regulatory
Regulation S-K regulatory
Lead Independent Director financial
Risk Committee financial
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What other public company board experience does Bryan Kennedy bring to Southern First Bancshares (SFST)?
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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ITEM 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
Effective June 1, 2026, the Boards of Directors of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) and Southern First Bank (the “Bank”) approved the appointment of Mr. Bryan Kennedy as a director. Mr. Kennedy will serve as a director of the Company and the Bank as well as on the Risk Committee of the Boards. Mr. Kennedy will participate in the current director compensation arrangements generally applicable to the Company’s non-employee directors as described in the Company’s Proxy Statement filed in connection with its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Kennedy and other persons pursuant to which he was selected as director. In addition, Mr. Kennedy has not engaged in any transaction with the Company or the Bank that would be reportable as a related party transaction under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Mr. Kennedy recently retired from a 43-year career in commercial banking, most recently serving SouthState Bank as Northern Banking Group President over North Carolina and Virginia. His experience includes leadership positions at various financial institutions such as First Charlotte Bank, Park Meridian Bank and Regions Bank. In 2006, Mr. Kennedy founded Park Sterling Bank, the largest capitalized start-up in North Carolina history, which was sold to SouthState Bank in 2017. Mr. Kennedy also serves as the Lead Independent Director of the Cato Corporation, an NYSE-traded women’s specialty apparel retailer, where he has served as director since 2009. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his MBA from the University of North Carolina. The Boards believe Mr. Kennedy’s ties to the Charlotte community, a key market for the Bank, and his extensive commercial banking and public company board experience will enhance his ability to serve as a director of the Company and the Bank.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
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.
| SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Christian J. Zych | |
| Name: | Christian J. Zych | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
June 2, 2026