Leader of $1B trust company retires

Jami Peebles, executive vice president and market manager of Central Trust Co., retired from the company March 6.

The Jefferson City-based firm’s top Springfield executive this morning said she decided to exit her position after complications from knee surgery in November caused an infection. She’s been on medical leave ever since.

“It’s just a great time for me to go out on the top of my game,” said Peebles, 55.

Since joining the trust and investment company in 2009, Peebles has led the 3333 S. National Ave. office’s growth to over $1 billion in assets under management from $80 million, she said. In September, the 30-employee local Central Trust office ranked fourth on Springfield Business Journal’s list of the area’s largest trust companies with $945 million in local assets administered.

Peebles said she was unsure how Central Trust would go about finding her successor. Spokesman Will Carter provided to SBJ Peebles’ March 6 letter to clients announcing her retirement, but could not be reached for comment regarding a succession plan.

Peebles now lists herself as a consultant, entrepreneur and trust litigation expert witness on her LinkedIn page.

That kind of work, including leadership training, would be part-time in nature. Peebles is not currently in the market for another full-time job, but said she’ll continue to work with nonprofits Convoy of Hope and Community Foundation of the Ozarks, for which she’s a board member.

Her previous work experience includes vice president of wealth management at U.S. Bank.