MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 10, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- First Horizon National Corp.'s (NYSE:FHN) First Tennessee Bank has hired David Popwell, chairman, president and CEO of SunTrust Memphis, to lead First Tennessee's banks in Memphis and the surrounding areas. Popwell, 47, replaces Chuck Newell, who is taking on management of the bank's private client services for customers with complex financial needs in the bank's selected markets across the country. Outside Tennessee, First Tennessee operates as First Horizon Bank.
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"David is a lifelong Memphian with a tremendous financial background. That makes him an outstanding candidate to lead First Tennessee in Memphis, where more individuals and businesses choose to do business with us than any other bank by a wide margin," said Charles Burkett, president of national and Tennessee banking for First Horizon National Corp., First Tennessee's parent company.
Before assuming leadership of SunTrust Bank in Memphis, Popwell was an executive vice president of National Commerce Financial Corp., where he was responsible for the company's fee income lines of business; participated in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and investor relations; and served as a member of the company's management committee.
"I'm very excited about joining the team at First Tennessee," said Popwell. "Part of what excites me about First Tennessee is the company's commitment to its employees and investment in the markets it serves."
Before joining NCF, Popwell was a shareholder in Baker, Donelson, Bearman and Caldwell P.C. and served as the partner in charge of the firm's mergers and acquisitions practices group. Prior to that he was an accountant with Ernst and Whinney (today, Ernst and Young). Popwell earned a degree in accounting from the University of Alabama, a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.
Second significant hire in one month demonstrates belief in future success
Just last month First Horizon announced that it had hired D. Bryan Jordan, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of Regions Financial Corp., as its CFO. "We are focused on making strategic hires of excellent people who strengthen our organization and will facilitate our continued growth," said Jerry Baker, First Horizon CEO and president.
About First Horizon
The 12,000 employees of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) provide financial services to individuals and business customers through hundreds of offices located in more than 40 states. The corporation's three major brands -- FTN Financial, First Horizon and First Tennessee -- provide customers with a broad range of products and services including:
* Capital markets, one of the nation's top underwriters of U.S. government agency securities * Mortgage banking, one of the nation's top mortgage originators and recipient of consecutive awards for servicing excellence from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac * Retail/commercial banking, with the largest market share in Tennessee and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country
FHN companies have been recognized as some of the nation's best employers by AARP, Working Mother and Fortune magazines. FHN also was named one of the nation's 100 best corporate citizens by CRO magazine. More information can be found at www.fhnc.com.
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