CHARLOTTE, NC--(Marketwire - January 19, 2011) - Park Sterling Corporation (
"We are committed to recruiting top executives who will drive growth across our target markets in the Carolinas and Virginia. Emory is a successful banker with significant experience in talent acquisition and team building. He is well known across South Carolina with especially strong business connections in Charleston, where he spent a substantial portion of his 25 year career. We believe this market has great potential and will leverage Emory's contacts and extensive network to make this area our initial focus. We are moving quickly to establish Park Sterling as a major presence in Charleston, and we will be applying to open a branch office there in the near future. We will count on Emory to grow our franchise through de novo branch expansion and business development as we continue to implement our strategy," said James C. Cherry, Park Sterling's Chief Executive Officer.
A long standing member of the banking industry, Mr. Ware most recently was the Chief Operating/Credit Officer with Bank Meridian. Prior to this, Mr. Ware spent 13 years in various senior executive roles at Regions Bank, concentrating on growing the bank's business in South Carolina and Georgia. During this time, Mr. Ware was instrumental in not only building Region's de novo operations in these markets but overseeing all banking operations including a $5.0 billion loan portfolio.
Mr. Ware holds an undergraduate degree in Management and Finance from Western Carolina University and is very active in community service activities in the Charleston area.
About Park Sterling Corporation
Park Sterling Corporation is the holding company for Park Sterling Bank, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Bank's primary focus is to provide banking services to small and mid-sized businesses, owner occupied and income producing real estate owners, professionals, and other customers doing business or residing within its target areas. Park Sterling Bank is committed to building a banking franchise across the Carolinas and Virginia that is noted for sound risk management, superior client service and exceptional client relationships. For further information, visit www.parksterlingbank.com. Park Sterling's shares are traded on NASDAQ under the symbol PSTB.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Jim Cherry
CEO
Park Sterling Bank
704 323 4300