Huntington Bank is raising up who is likely to be its new CEO after several years of rapid growth for the Columbus-based lender.
Brant Standridge, formerly president of consumer and business banking, became president of Huntington effective Sept. 8. However, CEO Steven Steinour will remain CEO for several more years, the bank said in a press release. The relinquishing of one of his titles is part of an "extensive" succession plan for whenever Steinour decides to retire from the role he's held since 2009.
"Brant is an exceptional leader with deep banking experience, strong operating discipline and a clear focus on delivering for customers and colleagues," Steinour said in a press release. "Since joining Huntington, he has played an important role
in advancing our growth agenda and strengthening alignment across our businesses. He has been a strong champion of our culture and has helped reinforce the values and purpose of Huntington."
Steinour will also stay chairman of the bank, and "remain focused on company strategy and execution," according to the company's press release.
Standridge originally hails from Georgia, and held leadership roles in North Carolina-based BB&T, later Truist Financial after BB&T merged with SunTrust in 2019 before coming to Huntington in 2022.
Standridge told The Dispatch that the company has been preparing him for his new role since he was hired for his previous one.
"What you would want to see as an investor, as a stakeholder in Huntington is an orderly plan that leads to a successful transition, and this role sets that up," Standridge told The Dispatch.
However, Standridge stipulated that ultimately, the final decision of the next CEO belongs to the board, whenever Steinour decides to step down. But Standridge also noted that the responsibility he's been given within Huntington, such as overseeing multiple acquisitions, have "progressively prepared him" for the next steps.
Huntington's growth has been exponential as of late. The bank recently acquired of Vertex Holdings, Inc, and Cadence Bank across the southern United States, including Texas and Florida.
The company is also making a concerted effort to grow their sports partnerships, of which they already have several in Columbus, including the Columbus Blue Jackets and its role as official bank of Ohio State University. Most recently, Huntington became the official bank of University of Texas Athletics.
Business and consumer issues reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at shendrickson@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Huntington Bank promotes executive likely to become its next CEO
