Skip to main content

Board of Directors

Robert Shoptaw

Year First Elected to Board: 2006
Tenure: 17 years
Age: 77

 

Professional Experience

Mr. Shoptaw retired as president of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield (ABCBS), a mutual health insurance company, in 2008, terminating his 39 years of service to that organization. During the 1970's and 1980's, he served in various management and executive capacities with a primary focus in medical services management, professional relations and government programs administration (Medicare administrative operations). In 1987, Mr. Shoptaw became the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ABCBS and was named President and CEO in 1994. After retiring as President and CEO in 2008, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of ABCBS from 2009 to 2016. Thereafter, he continued on the ABCBS Board of Directors and served as Chairman of the Audit Committee until March of 2022.

Education

  • Bachelor of Art (Economics), Arkansas Tech University
  • Master of Arts (Business Administration and Health Services Management), Webster University
  • Advanced Management Program at Harvard University Business School

Experience and Qualifications

  • Little Rock Metrocentre Improvement District (Chairman)
  • Arkansas Research Alliance (former founding board member)
  • Board of Vistors of the University of Arkansas College of Medicine (former Chairman)
  • Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (former board member)

Biographical information regarding directors is based on, and also as of, Simmons First National Corporation’s latest proxy statement filed on March 20, 2024.