First Community Bank Announces Leadership Changes

First Community Corporation (Nasdaq:  FCCO), the holding company for First Community Bank, has announced planned changes to the bank’s executive leadership team and discussed the results of operations and the company’s activities during the second quarter of 2026.

The company announced that J. Ted Nissen will retire from his role as CEO and president of First Community Bank and as a director of the bank and its holding company, First Community Corporation, effective December 31, 2026.  Nissen is a founding member of the bank’s executive leadership team and he has dedicated over four decades to the banking industry, thirty-one of those years at First Community Bank.  He has served many industry and community organizations throughout his career including the South Carolina Bankers Association, the South Carolina Small Business Development Corporation, and the Lexington Medical Center Foundation, all of which have benefited from his talents and his commitment to actively supporting our industry and our local community.  Mike Crapps, CEO and president of First Community Corporation, commented on Nissen’s retirement by saying, “Through his passion and hard work, Ted has contributed so much to so many during his very distinguished career.  His contributions to First Community Bank have been significant, his impact is felt throughout our organization, and we will continue to benefit from the legacy that he has created for years to come.  Words are not adequate to express our thanks to Ted for all that he has done for First Community and for all that he has meant to our board, our executive team, our employees, our customers, and our community members.  We all wish him well as he moves into this next season.”  

With Nissen’s retirement, the CEO and president role will be split and effective January 1, 2027, Vaughan R. Dozier will become chief executive officer of First Community Bank and Joseph A. “Drew” Painter will become president of the bank.  With their new roles, Dozier and Painter will join the company’s and bank’s board of directors.  In his new position as CEO, Dozier will be responsible for overall bank operations and the oversight of the bank’s executive leadership team including finance, credit, risk, operations, human resources, and marketing as well as the bank’s residential mortgage lending line of business.  As president, Painter will be responsible for commercial and retail banking, financial planning and investment advisory services, and government guaranteed lending, as well as the bank’s Business Services and Branch Administration areas. Dozier and Painter are both seasoned bankers with long tenures with First Community, eighteen and twenty-three years, respectively.  Both have much institution and industry knowledge that they will bring to their new roles.  Both understand First Community’s business and culture on a deep level.  Each has been incredibly successful in their various roles with the bank, having most recently served as Co-Commercial and Retail Banking Officers leading significant geographic regions for the bank in addition to their service on the bank’s Executive Leadership Team.  Each has graduated from the First Community Bank Leadership Institute and each has also been recognized by the South Carolina Bankers Association as a Young Banker of the Year.

Also, effective January 1, 2027, Michael Cromer and Trey Werner will assume the roles of regional executives, each responsible for the oversight of a geographic region of First Community’s network of banking offices. Cromer will oversee the Midlands region of South Carolina and the CSRA region of South Carolina and Georgia, while Werner will oversee the Upstate and Piedmont regions of South Carolina as well as the Atlanta/Sandy Springs, Georgia region.  Both have had successful tenures with the bank, Cromer for eighteen years and Werner for ten years.  They are seasoned and talented bankers who will positively impact these important regions for the bank in their new leadership roles.

Mike Crapps will continue in his role as CEO and president of First Community Corporation focusing on board and corporate governance, investor relations, strategy, balance sheet and capital management, and leadership development.

Commenting on the announced leadership transition, First Community board Chairman Jimmy Chao said, “The long-term success and sustainability of First Community Bank has been and continues to be an ongoing focus of our company and we have made it a priority to invest in our people to prepare them for future leadership opportunities.  This current leadership transition began in 2023 and it has been implemented in stages over these past several years.  Historically, most of our bank’s growth and success has been driven organically under the leadership of Vaughan and Drew.  We are committed to a seamless and successful leadership transition of the CEO and president roles to Vaughan and Drew and have great confidence in their partnership leading our bank to even greater success.  While Ted has chosen to leave his role a little earlier than planned due to personal health reasons, we are fortunate that he will continue in a consulting role through December 31, 2027 to help ensure a smooth transition. Our board of directors is incredibly grateful to Ted for all of his many contributions to First Community through the years.  He has generously shared his time and talents with our company and led with a servant’s heart to impact lives for success and significance.”