A leadership transition at a regional bank often reflects more than a change in title. It can reveal where the company plans to go next. That appears to be the case for Amerant Bancorp Inc., which has officially appointed Carlos Iafigliola as its new President and Chief Executive Officer following months of interim leadership and a formal executive search process.
The Florida-based banking company announced that Iafigliola officially assumed the role on May 18, 2026. He also became President and CEO of Amerant Bank N.A., the company’s primary banking subsidiary. The appointment follows his tenure as Interim CEO, a role he had held since November 2025 after former CEO Jerry Plush stepped down.
Amerant Chooses an Internal Leader
Amerant’s Board of Directors selected Iafigliola after conducting what the company described as a comprehensive search process. Board Chair Odilon Almeida said the decision reflects confidence in Iafigliola’s leadership abilities, operational experience, and long-term understanding of the business.
The company emphasized that his familiarity with Amerant’s operations and strategy made him a strong choice during a period when regional banks continue adapting to changing customer expectations, economic uncertainty, and growing digital competition.
Iafigliola has spent more than 20 years at Amerant and nearly three decades in the banking industry overall. During his time with the company, he held several senior leadership positions that shaped many of Amerant’s operational and financial initiatives.
Deep Experience Across Operations and Finance
Before becoming Interim CEO, Iafigliola served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In that role, he oversaw critical business areas including treasury management, branch operations, digital banking services, loan and deposit operations, and technology infrastructure.
The company also credited him for leading important modernization projects, including Amerant’s core banking conversion and operational efficiency efforts. He played a key role in the sale of the company’s Houston banking franchise, a move aimed at sharpening Amerant’s strategic focus.
Earlier in his career at the company, Iafigliola served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2020 to 2023. His experience across both financial management and operational leadership gave him broad exposure to the bank’s long-term growth strategy.
Amerant said his leadership helped support the company’s digital transformation initiatives as customer banking habits increasingly shifted toward technology-driven services.
Focus on Long-Term Growth
In a statement released by the company, Iafigliola said he feels honored by the board’s trust and remains focused on strengthening Amerant’s foundation while driving sustainable growth. He pointed to the bank’s phased strategy centered on stabilization, optimization, and expansion.
The appointment comes at a time when many regional banks in the United States are prioritizing efficiency, customer retention, and technology investments to remain competitive in a changing financial environment.
Headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, Amerant Bancorp provides banking, lending, and wealth management services to businesses and individuals. Through Amerant Bank, the company operates banking centers across South Florida and Tampa.
By formally appointing Carlos Iafigliola as CEO after several months in the interim role, Amerant is signaling a preference for continuity, institutional knowledge, and operational stability as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
