Former Arkansas Business editor to lead corporate communications at Simmons First

Former Arkansas Business editor Rex Nelson will leave his current job as president of Arkansas Independent Colleges & Universities at the end of the month to become director of corporate communications for Pine Bluff, Ark.-based bank holding company Simmons First National Corp. (Nasdaq: SFNC).

Nelson, who also writes a column for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, has a resume that includes serving as a spokesman for former Natural State governor Mike Huckabee. Nelson has been president of AICU, an association of private colleges, for four years, according to Arkansas Business.

Simmons First announced April 29 it penned a definitive agreement to purchase Springfield-based Ozark Trust and Investment Corp., the parent company of Trust Company of the Ozarks. In the first quarter, Simmons finalized its purchase of Springfield-based Liberty Bancshares Inc.

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