BayFirst Financial Corp. announced that Anthony N. Leo will retire as Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2023. Leo will remain a Director of the Company and will also serve as Special Counsel for strategic matters.

The Board of Directors has appointed Thomas G. Zernick to succeed Leo as Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2024. He was also appointed to serve as a Director of the Company, and is joining the Company's Board effective immediately. Zernick has served as President of the Company since February 2022, and previously served as President of its Credit Bench Division, which provides government guaranteed lending to businesses throughout the nation.

He joined the Company in 2016.