Board member
Jerry Plush is a future-focused board director and trusted with strengths and strategy, marketing, consensus building, and financial rigor. For more than 15 years he has served on the boards of public, private, and PE portfolio companies as well as non-profit and community organizations, bringing his business expertise and people focus to guide enterprises to standards of excellence in growth, brand awareness, team member engagement, and profitability.
Most recently Chairman, President, and CEO of Amerant Bank, he led a transformation from 0% brand awareness to one of the fastest growing and well-known financial institutions in Florida. A key component of the transformation strategy was building visibility through community involvement and strategic partnerships with five professional sports teams across the state.
As Amerant Bank Board Chairman, Jerry drove board expansion and diversification, adding six new board members as part of a director succession process, all of whom brought highly valuable skills and experience to the role. He also initiated the CEO succession process and a talent development program for senior leaders.
Previously with the private equity firm Patriot Financial Partners, Jerry evaluated investment opportunities and represented Patriot on the boards of multiple firms in its portfolio of bank, financial services, and fintech investments. As CEO of Verdigris Holdings, he led the fintech start-up through regulatory application, organization development, and initial funding before transitioning to a seat on its board of directors. His prior executive experience includes progressive roles with Webster Bank and MBNA America.
Culminating as President, COO, and Board Director at Webster Bank, Jerry led the organization through turnaround, transformation, and rapid recovery from the global recession. Notably, under his leadership, the bank achieved the largest pre-tax profit in its history and built a highly visible presence from Boston to New York through community and sports partnerships. With MBNA America, Jerry rose to CFO and Senior Executive VP and was a key player in transforming MBNA into a multi-line financial services provider with presence in international markets. As a Board Director, Jerry is known for building relationships and steering issues toward consensus. He is a valued resource for CEOs and executive teams who benefit from his depth and breadth of experience as a board member and committee member/chair, as well as his background as a CEO, COO, and CFO with financial services and fintech firms.
Deeply strategic and forward-thinking, he embraces change and tackles challenges with enthusiasm. Jerry earned a BS in Accounting from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and holds the NACD.DC Directorship Certification and CERT Cyber-Risk Oversight Certification. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He currently resides in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale area and has been active with several well-known philanthropic organizations, serving on the board of directors of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee, the Broward Workshop, and the Orange Bowl Committee.
