GlobeNewswire Inc | Oct 22, 2020 01:30PM EDT

October 22, 2020

GULFPORT, Miss., Oct. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hancock Whitney Corporation (Nasdaq: HWC) today announced that it has appointed Suzette Kent as a new Hancock Whitney holding company and bank director effective October 22, 2020.

Suzettes background as an industry leader in large-scale business transformation, technology, and productivity management in complex and highly-regulated environments, including global and regional banking and financial services, makes her well-suited to join our board, said Jerry L. Levens, Chairman of the Board. We are pleased to have her join as a new director and her years of diverse experience and expertise will ensure that she will immediately become a valued member of the board.

Ms. Kent is a global business transformation executive who most recently served as the Federal Chief Information Officer for the United States government. She was the first woman to serve in that role. Prior to that role, Ms. Kent served in leadership positions at JP Morgan, Ernst & Young (EY), Accenture and Carreker (FiServ). At JP Morgan, Ms. Kent was a managing director in the banks Treasury and Securities Solutions business and Client Solutions Executive in the Commercial Bank. As a partner at EY, Ms. Kent built a thriving practice focused on payments, banking and treasury management innovation, and transformation programs serving a wide variety of banks and other financial institutions. She has worked across both public and private sectors, bringing her deep experience in business development, solution construction, technology, and risk management and operations to assist and advise clients around the world and across industries.

A Louisiana native and Louisiana State University graduate, Ms. Kent has received numerous awards throughout her career, and is a frequent and sought after speaker. Her career spanned assignments from the Gulf South region to national and global responsibility. Upon retiring as the Nations CIO, she settled in Frisco (Dallas), Texas.

Ms. Kent will stand for election at the companys 2021 annual meeting of shareholders.

About Hancock WhitneySince the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Hancock Whitney offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee. BauerFinancial, Inc., the nations leading independent bank rating and analysis firm, consistently recommends Hancock Whitney as one of Americas most financially sound banks. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.

Source: Hancock Whitney Corporation

For more informationTrisha Voltz Carlson, EVP, Investor Relations Manager504.299.5208 or trisha.carlson@hancockwhitney.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffb4f669-cb35-44eb-baa9-061026dc5d89