Archie M. Brown, Jr. has been the CEO of First Financial Bancorp since 2018, shortly after the company completed a merger with MainSource Financial Group. With a solid background in finance, he stepped into this role after leading MainSource as...

Archie M. Brown, Jr. has been the CEO of First Financial Bancorp since 2018, shortly after the company completed a merger with MainSource Financial Group. With a solid background in finance, he stepped into this role after leading MainSource as its President and CEO since 2008. A key part of his leadership has been to align the company's performance with executive compensation, creating a pay-for-performance model that emphasizes results. In 2021, Archie earned a total compensation of just over $3 million, which included a base salary of $800,207 and performance-based bonuses. He made headlines when, as part of the merger arrangement, the company purchased his Indiana home for $778,000, intending to relocate him to Cincinnati, where First Financial is headquartered. Brown is committed to growing the company by focusing on financial performance metrics, which include Return on Assets and Earnings per Share. He's also adhered to strict share ownership requirements, reinforcing his investment in the company's success. Under his guidance, First Financial Bancorp aims to maximize long-term shareholder value while navigating a rapidly changing financial landscape.