Pinnacle Financial Partners powers recruiting growth engine with 50 new revenue producing team members in 1Q26

Firm progressing toward goal that drives growth agnostic of macroeconomic factors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pinnacle Financial Partners (NYSE: PNFP) hired 50 revenue-producing team members in the first quarter of 2026, progressing toward its goal of hiring 225-250 such team members this year. On average, they bring more than 18 years of financial services experience to the firm, coming from banks like Chase, Wells Fargo, Truist, First Citizens and more.

“Our growth model is built, in large part, on the strength of our team member recruiting and retention, and this shows we’re continuing the momentum that Pinnacle has built over the last 26 years,” said Kevin Blair, Pinnacle president and CEO. “It’s why we put such an emphasis on investing in our internal culture and why it was essential to keep that culture through our merger with Synovus. Seeing the progress our leaders have made this early into our combination, we feel confident about the road ahead.”

The newest members of the Pinnacle team include two former state banking presidents in North Florida, a former market executive in Washington, D.C., several investment and wealth managers, and the CFO for international recording artist Pitbull.

“This isn’t just a numbers game of hitting the target at the expense of quality talent,” Blair said. “Our model is very intentional, looking for happy and successful financial advisors who bring with them strong, long-term clients who will be served better in Pinnacle’s banking environment. With our status as America’s No. 12 Best Company to Work For, we expect more and more of banking’s top performers to be attracted to our way of doing business.”

Recruiting activity was strong in several major markets, including those previously served by only either Pinnacle or Synovus. These are among the 50 revenue-producing team members who came on board in the first quarter.

Alabama

• Melanie Luck, treasury management advisor in the Mobile area joins the firm with 29 years of experience, most recently at PNC Bank and prior to that, at Wells Fargo.

Florida

• Jodi Allen, commercial banker in Sarasota, has spent 19 years in financial services with Sunwest, Seaside Bank and Trust and BMO Harris Bank.
• Clinton Carter, relationship specialist in Orlando, brings more than 18 years of banking and loan experience, most recently at NEXA Mortgage.
• June Denton, treasury management consultant, joins the firm in Sarasota, after a four-year stint at Sunwest Bank and brings more than 20 years of previous banking experience including 15 years at BMO Harris Bank.
• Donny Duarte, CRE relationship manager, joins the firm’s South Florida CRE team in Coral Gables, most recently served at SeaCoast Bank and has 18 years of banking experience from Truist/BB&T, Florida Bank and Regions Bank.
• Diumira Gonzalez, retail market manager in Weston, brings more than 12 years of experience in financial services, most recently at Ocean Bank.
• Scott McGarry, retail market manager in Venice, brings 23 years of banking experience, with 18 years at Truist and five years at Republic Bank.
• Brian Rolph, commercial banking manager in Sarasota, has spent 27 years in banking at multiple banks, including Sunwest Bank, BMO Harris Bank, Branch Banking and Trust Company and SouthTrust Bank.

Georgia

• Kenneth Margraff, retail market manager in Wilmington Island, brings 21 years of experience in banking and entrepreneurship with three years at TC Federal Bank and 10 years at Truist.
• Samantha Elmankabady, treasury management consultant, joins the firm in Atlanta after nearly 10 years at Bank of America and seven years at JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America.
• Robert Evans, commercial banker in Atlanta, has spent 23 years working in financial services, including the past 10 years at Ameris Bank.

Kentucky

• David Krebs, financial advisor in Louisville, joins Pinnacle from Stock Yards Bank & Trust, bringing nearly 30 years of financial services experience to the firm.

North Carolina

• Brad Thompson, financial advisor in Raleigh, has more than 20 years of financial services experience, most recently at Dogwood State Bank and previously at Wells Fargo and BB&T.
• Jimmy Smith, trust and wealth advisor in Winston-Salem, brings 20 years of experience, most recently as a trust advisor at Wells Fargo.

Tennessee

• Ali Burlage, treasury management advisor in Nashville, joined the firm from Fifth Third Bank with 14 years of healthcare treasury management experience.
• Mark Ford, financial advisor in Nashville, brings 20 years of experience in financial services, including previous roles as CFO for musical artist Pitbull and at First Horizon Bank.
• Austin Sanders, trust portfolio manager in Knoxville, brings 10 years of experience in financial services, most recently at First Horizon Bank.
• Greg Wiel, financial advisor in Nashville, joins the firm from Franklin Synergy Bank/FirstBank and brings nearly 30 years of commercial real estate expertise.

Virginia

• David Merzazada, office leader in Leesburg, has more than 20 years of financial services experience and joins Pinnacle from Truist.
• Carmen Maalouf, COBRA advisor on Pinnacle’s Health & Benefits team, brings more than 20 years of expertise in benefits administration to the firm.

About Pinnacle Financial Partners

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (“Pinnacle”) is a $119.1 billion asset regional bank which provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services for commercial and consumer clients who want a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm joined forces with Synovus Financial Corp. in 2026, bringing together more than 160 years of combined banking service. Pinnacle is the largest bank headquartered in Tennessee and the largest bank holding company headquartered in Georgia. The firm is No. 1 in deposit market share* in the Nashville MSA and No. 4 in the Atlanta MSA with offices in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland.

Pinnacle is an employer of choice for financial services professionals. The firm is No. 12 in the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2026, its 10th consecutive appearance. Pinnacle was also recognized by American Banker as No. 4 among America’s Best Banks to Work For in 2025, its 13th consecutive year on the list, and No. 1 among banks with more than $10 billion in assets. Learn more about Pinnacle at PNFP.com.

*As of June 30, 2025, according to FDIC data.