McKnight Named to American Bankers Insurance Association's Board of Directors

TUPELO, Miss., Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Markham R. McKnight, President, BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc. was elected to serve on the American Bankers Insurance Association's board of directors at the association's annual conference held in Washington.

"Markham McKnight has been instrumental in the growth and success of BancorpSouth Insurance Services," said James Threadgill, Executive Vice President for BancorpSouth, Inc. (NYSE: BXS).  "His experience, coupled with his ability to lead and inspire, will serve the ABIA well during his tenure."

ABIA's mission is to develop policy and provide advocacy for banks in insurance and support bank insurance operations through research, education, compliance assistance, and peer-group opportunities.  The separately chartered subsidiary of the American Bankers Association is the only full-service association for bank insurance interests based in Washington.

"We are very pleased to have Markham as an ABIA board member," said Valerie Barton, executive director, ABIA.  "His leadership and experience in the bank insurance area will be a great asset to ABIA and its membership."

"ABIA continues to serve as the leading advocate for banks offering insurance products and services," said McKnight.  "I am honored to serve on the board of directors for an organization that is well regarded by lawmakers and regulators, and, most importantly, its membership."

McKnight holds a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University (LSU) in General Studies with a concentration in construction technology as well as a master's degree through LSU's Executive MBA program.  McKnight is past president of The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB), treasurer of the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association (LIGA), and sits on the Board of Directors of the Worldwide Broker Network.  He is past chairman of the board of Woman's Hospital of Baton Rouge and the Tiger Athletic Foundation.  In 1995, McKnight was named Alumnus of the Year by the LSU General College and in 1997 was selected as one of Sales and Marketing Executives International's "Outstanding Individuals".  

ABIA Membership consists of banks, and their affiliated agencies, insurance companies, marketing, and administrative services suppliers, non-bank lending organizations and other firms involved in the bank affiliated insurance industry.

In 1982, Markham R. McKnight joined Wright & Percy Insurance, a Baton Rouge based insurance brokerage firm founded a century earlier, in 1882.  In 2003, Wright & Percy was acquired by BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc where McKnight became president in 2003.

BancorpSouth is a $13.2 billion asset bank holding company based in Tupelo, Mississippi. A division of BancorpSouth, Inc., BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc. employs over 500 insurance and risk management specialists. Collectively, BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc. has over 20 offices across 8 states and is annually ranked as one of the nation's largest brokers by Business Insurance magazine. BancorpSouth's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BXS.

SOURCE BancorpSouth, Inc.