F. Scott Dueser, chairman, president and CEO of First Financial Bankshares Inc., the parent company of Abilene-based First Financial Bank, announced several key executive promotions in February.
J. Kyle McVey has been promoted to executive vice president/chief accounting officer. He joined First Financial Bank in 2011 following two years with KPMG in Jacksonville, Florida. His responsibilities include financial reporting, acquisition strategy and analysis, internal and external audit coordination, investor relations and assisting in various other roles across the company. McVey is co-chairman of First Financial Bank’s Customer Service First program, which encompasses the company’s mission, five- and 10-year vision and the company’s 21 service non-negotiables for delivering excellence in customer service. McVey worked closely with Horst Schulze, co-founder of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. and a leader in the hospitality and service industry, to develop the foundation for the program that has transformed and elevated the reputation and brand of First Financial Bank.
McVey holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance and a master’s degree in accounting from Abilene Christian University. He is a licensed CPA and a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB). While attending SWGSB, McVey was a two-time winner of the James B. Gardner Commerce Street Capital Scholarship, which recognizes participants who attain the highest level of academic achievement and best represent the educational ideals of merit and leadership. In addition, he was also recognized as valedictorian of his SWGSB class.
“Kyle’s contributions to our company have been integral in providing accurate financials and budgets for the company and each of the regions along with coordinating audits and overseeing investor relations,” Dueser says. “His involvement in the bank’s customer service culture and community initiatives has helped us further our commitment to serving our customers with excellent customer service.”
Luke Longhofer has been promoted to executive vice president/chief lending officer. He replaces Gary Gragg, who previously announced his retirement after 31 years, including the past 16 years as chief lending officer.
“Luke is well prepared to take on Gary’s position as chief lending officer since they have worked in tandem for the past 11 years,” Dueser says. “His role as chief credit officer has been critical to our continued growth and success as one of the nation’s best community banks. His leadership within our lending program and as an executive officer at the bank are strengths that will continue to greatly benefit the company in this new role. Luke has been part of our executive management team for several years, we welcome him to this new position with the dual role of chief lending and credit officer of the company.”
As chief credit officer, Longhofer has played an integral role in the credit oversight of bank acquisitions, most recently Bryan/College Station in 2020. He also oversaw the execution of the PPP and Main Street Lending programs, which exceeded $1 billion in funding. In addition, he was instrumental in implementing the CECL adoption for the bank. Before joining First Financial Bank in 2010, Longhofer served as a commissioned bank examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for more than seven years. He was promoted to senior vice president of loan review at First Financial in 2012, executive vice president of lending in 2015 and executive vice president and chief credit officer in 2018.
Longhofer holds a bachelor of finance degree from West Texas A&M University and was valedictorian of the 2011 Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) class at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. While attending SWGSB, Longhofer was awarded the James B. Gardner Commerce Street Capital Scholarship, which recognizes participants who attain the highest level of academic achievement and best represent the educational ideals of merit and leadership. He has served on the faculty of SWGSB and is a member of its alumni board. Longhofer is a board member of the Texas Bankers Association and has held numerous committee assignments. The organization recognized him in 2019 as an Emerging Leader recipient. Longhofer is active civically as a graduate of Leadership Abilene and sits on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star and Abilene.
Shelby Bruhn has been named president and CEO of First Financial Bank’s Southlake region. The announcement was made by Ron Butler, chief administrative officer of First Financial Bankshares Inc. Bruhn succeeds Mark Jones, who will continue his role as chairman of the First Financial Bank Southlake region board of directors.
Bruhn recently served as executive vice president/chief lending officer at Valliance Bank in Fort Worth, where his primary responsibility was managing the growth of the company’s lending division. He began his tenure at Valliance Bank as the Tarrant County market president in 2016 and was promoted to Texas president two years later. Bruhn previously served as executive vice president of Platinum Bank in Southlake and executive vice president/chief lending officer of Providence Bank of Texas in Southlake.
Bruhn is a graduate of the University of Texas–Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and information management. He also completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado in 2017.
“Shelby has a proven track record as a successful lending officer and banker whose leadership has helped increase the market presence for the banks with which he’s worked,” Butler says. “He has an extensive background in the Southlake and Tarrant County markets and will be a valuable asset to First Financial Bank’s future growth. I also look forward to Shelby working with Mark Jones who has led our Southlake Region bank to record growth in assets, loans and deposits. Mark will serve as board chair and will help Shelby and our entire Southlake region team continue to grow in Southlake, Keller, Trophy Club, Grapevine and Wise County markets.”
Established in 1890, First Financial Bank NA operates multiple banking regions with 78 locations in Texas.
