First Financial Bancorp Nominates Dawn Morris and Andre Porter to Board of Directors, as Corinne Finnerty to Retire

CINCINNATI, March 27, 2023

"Dawn and Andre are both excellent nominees to join the First Financial Board of Directors," said Claude Davis, chairman. "Dawn brings valuable experience in banking and broad expertise in business transformation and innovation, while Andre has extensive and varied business and leadership experience from both the private and public sectors."

First Financial CEO Archie Brown also commended the nominations. "Dawn's impressive accomplishments in the financial services sector position her well to offer valuable insights as we deliver relevant and customized solutions for our clients," Brown said. "Andre's business, legal and state government expertise should also serve us well in the areas of regulatory strategy, governance, corporate and personnel strategy, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) plans."

Mrs. Morris, 55, is the founder and CEO of Growth Partners Group, a strategic consulting firm in Florida, serving clients in strategic business transformation and innovation. Prior to opening the firm, she was the chief digital and marketing officer for First Horizon Bank in Tennessee. Mrs. Morris worked previously as executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Webster Bank, after holding earlier roles with RBS Citizens Financial Group and RBC Bank. She is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served as a captain in the Army.

Mr. Porter, 43, is senior vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary at Indiana-based Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which is responsible for an energy market that transmits electricity to 15 states. In previous roles, he served as chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, PUCO commissioner, and an attorney in private practice. Mr. Porter is chairman of the board at Capital University, where he has been a member of the board since 2007 and from which he earned his bachelor's degree. He holds his J.D. from The Ohio State University.

First Financial also announces that Corinne Finnerty will retire from the board when her current term expires, at the end of the board meeting on May 23. Ms. Finnerty joined the board of First Financial in 1998.