Spence Bridges has been hired to serve as the new president at Houston-based Texas Gulf Bank NA. He succeeds Rich Jochetz, who is retiring after serving as president for the past 15-plus years. Over the first few months of 2023, the bank engaged Sudduth Search, a well-respected executive search firm, to aid in identifying the right candidates. “Spence Bridges quickly shot to the top of our candidate list after he was referred to our bank by a respected, now-retired banker friend in Houston,” the bank says in a press release.
Bridges previously served as the regional director/commercial lending at Trustmark Bank. He was with Trustmark Bank for 30 years, including serving as regional president/Houston and senior vice president/commercial real estate manager.
Bridges earned his BBA degree in banking and finance from Mississippi State University. He also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He is deeply involved in the local community. Bridges also participates in the Texas Bankers Association, the board of Texas A&M University’s Commercial Banking School and Mississippi State University’s banking program, where he teaches on an annual basis.
“From the onboarding process, IT set-up, calls with loan officers and already participating in the loan committee, I’ve certainly hit the ground running and am enjoying every minute,” Bridges says. “Most of my career has been lending and management focused. This is an exciting opportunity to broaden my banking experience, meet new people and add value. I’m excited to be at Texas Gulf Bank and see what the next—and hopefully the last—chapter of my career entails.”
During his tenure as president, Jochetz executed a strategy to expand beyond Texas Gulf Bank’s core customer base in Brazoria County to reach new customers in the Houston/Harris County/Galveston County markets. Under his leadership, the bank more than tripled in size over the past 15 years.
“I have been a banker for 43 years, and it’s hard to believe that I have been with Texas Gulf Bank for over 15 years,” Jochetz says. “It’s by far the longest that I have worked for any one organization. We have accomplished a lot over that time period, but still have a lot more to accomplish.”
“I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Rich over the past 15 years,” says Jimmy Brown, CEO. “I expect to maintain a good working relationship with Rich through his continued service as a board member. I’m thankful Spence agreed to join our team and look forward to as many successes with Spence as we have enjoyed with Rich.”
Established in 1913, Texas Gulf Bank operates nine branches in Houston and along the Texas Gulf Coast.
