James Cherry
Director
James Cherry brings to the Board extensive leadership experience across the banking and investment management industries. As former Chief Executive Officer of a regional bank, he has spearheaded several market expansion initiatives, providing him with a unique perspective on the Company’s transformational growth strategy for long-term value creation. His deep financial expertise, combined with his service on several financial institution boards, enables him to contribute robust knowledge of disciplined capital deployment and risk management.
Key Skills and Expertise
Mr. Cherry served as the Chief Executive Officer and board member of the Park Sterling Corporation, leading its successful $150 million IPO and subsequent transformation from a small local bank with $400 million in assets, 50 employees, and three offices into a full-banking service regional institution with more than $3.5 billion in assets, 500 employees, and 50 offices across four states. During his tenure, he executed a series of purpose-driven regional acquisitions that expanded the company’s capabilities and strengthened its competitive positioning.
Mr. Cherry brings to the Board experience in technology and digital strategy, having overseen the launch of Park Sterling’s mobile banking platform, advancing the company’s technological capabilities to enhance efficiency and modernize operational infrastructure. His perspective supports the Board’s oversight of data-driven decision-making and technology-enabled performance across AH Realty Trust’s portfolio.
Having spent more than three decades at Wachovia Corporation in financial and banking roles, including as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mid-Atlantic Banking, Mr. Cherry provides a vast understanding of evaluating credit, including commercial real estate financing, managing balance sheets, and allocating capital across economic cycles to support the Board’s oversight of the Company’s growth strategy. Mr. Cherry qualifies as an SEC Audit Committee Financial Expert.ociation in 2006-2007.
