Houston-based Cadence Bank recently named Myra Caldwell its first chief diversity officer. Serving the bank for the past nine years, she most recently led its treasury management and deposit operations department. She brings extensive experience leading change through 14 bank mergers, department reorganizations and broad-based system and process improvements.
Caldwell will develop the vision, mission and strategic plan for Cadence Bank’s diversity, equity and inclusion program, with a focus on employees and vendor relationships, and by working with local leaders and community organizations that seek to bring attention to social justice, human rights, civil rights, equity and inclusion. Caldwell also will chair the bank’s diversity, equity and inclusion advisory council, comprised of a multicultural group of employees from across the organization.
Currently, Caldwell serves on the Houston Area Urban League board and is a member of the Society for Diversity, NAACP and Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She formerly served as vice president of the Houston Urban Bankers board and co-chair for Cadence Bank’s United Way of Greater Houston campaign.
“Myra’s passion for change and diversity in all aspects of life make her well suited to take on this inaugural position,” says Paul Murphy, chairman and CEO of Cadence Bancorporation. “We’re honored that she will help us be the change we want to see in the world. Myra is motivated, and she gets things done.”
“Our core values—‘Embrace We, Do Right, Own It and Fresh Thinking’—will guide us in executing programs that will not only further embrace our diverse perspectives, but also drive meaningful and effective change,” Caldwell says.
Established in 1887, Cadence Bank is a leading regional banking franchise with $18.9 billion in assets and 98 locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
