Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Finalize Board for Combined Southeastern Bank

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. have named the board of directors for their combined company, which will operate under the Pinnacle Financial Partners name following their planned merger on Jan. 1, 2026. The announcement marks a key step in the integration of the two Southeastern banking institutions.

Board Composition and Leadership

The combined board will include eight directors from Pinnacle and seven from Synovus, with six independent directors from each company, according to a joint announcement. Terry Turner, Pinnacle’s current president and CEO, will serve as non-executive chair, while Synovus director Tim E. Bentsen will serve as lead director. Kevin S. Blair, currently president and CEO of Synovus, will lead the merged company as CEO.

Other directors include Robert A. McCabe Jr., who will serve as vice chair, along with Abney Boxley III, Gregory L. Burns, Pedro Cherry, Thomas C. Farnsworth III, David B. Ingram, John H. Irby, Decosta E. Jenkins, Gregory Montana, Barry L. Storey, Kennedy Thompson, and Teresa White. The firms said the board’s combined expertise spans finance, accounting, operations, risk management, and commercial real estate.

Merger Progress and Regulatory Approvals

Shareholders of both Pinnacle and Synovus approved the merger on Nov. 6, with federal and state regulatory approvals received on Nov. 25 and 26, respectively. The firms said integration planning teams are continuing to develop a blueprint for combining operations. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions.

Leadership Comments

“Both Pinnacle and Synovus have such strong boards, making any combination of directors a winning team,” Turner said in the announcement. “The deep experience and leadership this group bring to our boardroom in finance and accounting, financial institutions, operations, risk management, commercial real estate and much more will help support Kevin Blair as CEO and keep our firm on its steep growth trajectory.”

Blair added that the board “unites bold, strategic leaders who are guided by a shared vision” and will preserve the legacies of both banks while positioning the combined firm for continued expansion.

Source: Pinnacle Financial Partners press release, Dec. 1, 2025; https://pnfp.com/about-pinnacle/media-room/news-releases/pinnacle-and-synovus-name-board-of-directors-for-combined-company