MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 21, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) announced today that Mark A. Emkes has been elected to its board of directors. Robert C. Blattberg retired from the board and Mary Sammons resigned to accept a board opportunity with another financial services company.
Emkes is chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC in Nashville.
"We are very pleased to have Mark Emkes join the board. He leads the Americas operations of one of the world's most recognized companies and is a respected leader in Middle Tennessee where those operations are headquartered. Mark will strengthen board representation throughout the state as we refocus on our regional banking efforts in Tennessee," said Mike Rose, FHN board chairman. "The board is grateful for the outstanding leadership and service Bob and Mary have provided and wish them well as they move forward."
Emkes has been CEO of Bridgestone Americas and a director of Tokyo-based Bridgestone Corporation since 2004. He began his career at The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in 1976 as an international trainee. He also serves on the board of Greif Industrial Packaging Systems in Delaware, Ohio.
His career advanced in the company with various international management positions leading to his current chief executive role in Nashville, where he is active in several community organizations. His volunteer work includes positions on the advisory board of Nashville's Habitat for Humanity chapter and Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management board of visitors.
Blattberg is retiring after 24 years of service on the board. He is the Timothy W. McGuire Distinguished Service Professor of Marketing and Executive Director of the Center for Marketing Technology and Information at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Management. He had been a First Horizon director since 1984.
Sammons had been a director since 2003. She is chairman and CEO of Camp Hill, PA-based Rite Aid Corp.
About First Horizon
The 6,000 employees of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) provide financial services through more than 200 bank locations in and around Tennessee and 14 capital markets offices in the U.S. and abroad. First Tennessee Bank has the largest combined market share in the 17 Tennessee counties where it does business and has one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country, and FTN Financial is one of the nation's top underwriters of U.S. government agency securities. FHN has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by AARP and Working Mother magazines. More information can be found at www.fhnc.com.
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