The expanding firm, located across the Southern states of the US, is opening a new office in New Orleans.

Argent Trust Company is opening a new office in New Orleans, its 29th, continuing a round of moves and expansion steps in recent months. 

The office is led by market president Kevin Reed, a figure with more than 30 years of experience in management, trust administration, client expansion, and product and service development. 
 
Working with Reed is Richard “Dick” Fox, portfolio manager, and Elizabeth Laufer, relationship manager, both of whom recently joined Argent. Mark Milton, senior vice president of institutional services, will also work from the office.

The new office comes amid a number of senior moves and hires at Argent. The firm has appointed Mollie Seymour as senior vice president/trust officer in its Birmingham office. Seymour manages personal and charitable relationships. A few weeks prior to this, Argent named Mark Milton as senior vice president of institutional services, based in its New Orleans office. He reports directly to Argent chief executive Kyle McDonald. (In Seymour’s case, she reports to Ken Alderman, president of Argent Trust.) And in March, Argent appointed Sue Turnage to run the newly-opened office in Fort Worth, Texas. Argent has also appointed Deanna Rankin as chief compliance officer. Rankin, who is based in San Antonio and reports to Charles Wade, takes charge of all regulatory compliance issues for the company. See a related story about the firm and its strategy, here.
 
New team 
Commenting on the background of its team in New Orleans, Argent said Fox has more than 40 years of experience in the investment industry. He has managed hedge accounts for major grain exporters; served as the director of research, chief investment strategist and senior portfolio manager for a number of institutions; and provided portfolio and asset management for high net worth individuals, families, charitable entities, governmental bodies and corporations. 
 
Laufer has previously worked in the trust divisions of First Commerce Corporation and Whitney National Bank. She has 30 years of financial services experience, including commercial and private banking, human resources and office administration, while most recently managing the office at Lusher Charter School, an “A” rated, K-12 New Orleans public charter school. 
 
Milton has more than 30 years of experience in various roles in the financial services industry, including business development, operations, risk management and compliance. He is leading Argent Financial Group’s retirement consulting, institutional custody and funeral trust services.
 
“Ruston, Louisiana, is where Argent was founded, so New Orleans feels like a natural place for our company to put down roots,” said Kyle McDonald, CEO of Argent. “We believe that the elements that have driven Argent’s continued success — our attitude of ‘humble confidence’ and our deep dedication to fiduciary-level service — will allow us to stand out in this competitive market.”