Commerce Bank tabs regional chairman

Kansas City-based Commerce Bank has promoted from within to fill a local executive position left vacant by the exit of Fred Osborn.

Douglas Neff, a 22-year Commerce veteran who most recently led the company's commercial banking efforts in Wichita, Kan., has been named chairman and CEO of Commerce's Springfield region, which includes Bolivar, Branson, Lebanon, WIllard, Republic, Nixa and Ozark, according to a news release.

Effectively immediately, Neff succeeds Osborn, who left the post earlier this month after accepting a job as regional vice president for philanthropy of Mercy's Joplin operations.

"Doug has shown strong leadership in both commercial banking management and community bank administration. He is well qualified for this role," Commerce Bancshares Inc. Vice Chairman Seth Leadbeater said in the release.

Neff joined Commerce in 1991 as a management trainee and credit analyst, and since has worked in the company's regional banking, correspondent and agribusiness divisions. He managed several community markets in Kansas and Missouri before taking on his most recent role in Wichita.

Osborn, who started April 15 at Mercy, was a 16-year employee of Commerce and was promoted to chairman of the Springfield region in 2012, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.