Paul Murphy is a Partner at LDR Partners LP and a member of the Firm's Investment Committee. He brings more than 40 years of leadership in banking, capital markets, and small business finance, providing deep expertise in capital allocation, credit strategy, and institutional growth. At LDR, Paul supports the Firm's investment strategy, governance, and institutional infrastructure.

Prior to joining LDR, Paul served as Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Cadence Bank from 2010 to 2023. During his tenure, he raised $1 billion to establish a bank holding company, completed three acquisitions, led the company's initial public offering in 2017, and grew Cadence to more than $18 billion in assets before its merger with BancorpSouth in 2021, creating a combined institution with approximately $45 billion in assets and 350 branches.

Paul's relationship with LDR began in 2021 through a shared service on small business empowerment initiatives in the local Houston community. In 2022, he led the banking relationship that provided the senior credit facilities supporting LDR's early manufacturing platform independent acquisitions. Following his tenure at Cadence Bank, he became an investor in LDR Partners Fund I, served as an advisor to the Firm's management committee, and joined LDR as a Partner in 2026.

Earlier in his career, Paul co-founded Southwest Bank of Texas, later Amegy Bank of Texas, where he served as Executive Vice President, President, and Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, the bank grew from a single location with $75 million in assets into one of Texas' leading banking franchises before its $1.7 billion acquisition by Zions Bancorporation.

Throughout his career, Paul has served on the boards of numerous public companies and nonprofit organizations, including Oceaneering International, Natural Resource Partners, Hines Real Estate Investment Trust, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Houston Branch, and Houston Endowment. He was named Ernst & Young Gulf Coast Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018. Paul earned an MBA, with Honors, from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Banking and Finance from Mississippi State University.

Our Team

leadership

Ryan Martin

Managing Partner

William Brame

Partner

JD Dolan

Partner

Lauren Gore

Partner

Paul Murphy

Partner

Richard Sexton

Partner

Clint Eubanks

President

Eleni Andersen

Vice President

Jon Moscot

Vice President

Laura Stamey

Vice President

Jared Lee

Vice President