Synovus names Columbus, Phenix City regional leaders in next phase of merger

Synovus Financial Corporation and Pinnacle Financial Partners announced Thursdsay a list of new regional leaders for their Georgia markets in the next phase of their merger.

Each leader appointed will oversee local teams across the state, according to their news release.

“When leaders understand the people and businesses they serve, they can deepen relationships and build trust and long-term success for clients,” Charlie Clark, Synovus president of community banking and Georgia geography leader, said in the news release. “Our Georgia team will demonstrate that excellence in driving growth for clients and strengthening our performance and purpose.”

Heath Schondelmayer has been named as the regional president for Columbus, LaGrange, Warner Robbins, Phenix City, and Macon. Schondelmayer has been the CEO of the West Central Georgia and East Alabama since 2022. He joined Synovus in 1997 and has over 25 years of banking experience, according to the release.

Will Thompson was named as the regional leader for the Phenix City division. Thompson, a native of Columbus, has been with Synovus since 1999, according to his company profile.

The full list of appointments includes:

• Atlanta Leaders
• Charlie Clark – Atlanta overall leader
• Paige Collier – Atlanta Regional President and commercial banking leader
• Baimba Norman, David Venn, Scott Jordan, Chris Gruehn, Susan Godbee – Client Advisory Group leaders
• Blake Gober – Commercial leader
• Matt McClure and Charlie Barnwell – Client Advisory Group leaders
• Cory Jackson – Commercial leader
• Allyson Kiel – Private Wealth Client Advisory Group leader
• Georgia Regional Leaders
• Heath Schondelmayer – Regional President for Columbus, LaGrange, Warner Robins, Phenix City, and Macon
• Jake Jones – LaGrange leader
• Ron Weigle – Warner Robins leader
• Will Thompson – Phenix City leader
• Jim Manley – Macon leader
• Jody Patton – Regional President for Athens, Augusta, Monroe, Statesboro, Savannah, and Northwest Georgia
• John Tebeau – Athens leader
• Kevin Glass – Augusta leader
• Meredith Malcolm – Monroe leader
• Chad Wiggins – Statesboro leader
• Ken Rabitsch – Savannah leader
• Bill Davies – Northwest Georgia leader
• Ty Turner – Regional President for Thomasville, Albany, Americus, Brunswick, Tifton, and Valdosta
• Pam Simmons – Albany leader
• Emory Parker – Americus leader
• Wayne Johnson – Brunswick leader
• Peter Crowley – Tifton leader
• Garrett Copeland – Valdosta leader
• Other Georgia Leaders
• Gene Perkins – Private wealth state leader
• Scott Asher – Georgia retail banking leader
• Brad Beard – Georgia specialty leader
• David Abee – Georgia COO

The merger between Nashville-based Pinnacle and Columbus-based Synovus still is pending regulatory approval, according to the release. Both firms continue to operate independently until the merger’s expected closure in 2026.