Synovus names new leadership for The Family Office at Synovus

Synovus Bank has named Walt Deriso as CEO and Hamilton Hilsman as president of The Family Office (TFO) at Synovus. Deriso will lead the overall direction of TFO, focusing on strengthening client relationships and expanding service offerings. Hilsman will lead the team’s efforts to continue driving innovation in advisory services to ultra-high-net-worth families. Deriso will report to Wayne Akins, executive vice president, chief community banking and wealth services officer for Synovus. Hilsman will report to Deriso.

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Walt Deriso named CEO of The Family Office at Synovus. (Photo: Business Wire)

Deriso has been with Synovus for nearly a decade, most recently serving as senior vice president, director of strategic growth and family office solutions for TFO. Hilsman has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, with 28 of those years at Synovus. He joined TFO in 2004 as a relationship manager and was named director in 2007. Prior to that, he served as a commercial lender.

"Walt and Hamilton have keen insight into our clients’ needs and the demonstrated ability to build strong, trusting relationships,” said Akins. "Their leadership and vision mark an exciting new chapter for The Family Office at Synovus, as we grow our client offerings while maintaining the industry’s best client experience.”

With more than 25 years of experience in the family office and banking industries, Deriso has expertise in startup formation, capital raising, early-stage development, growth, and mergers and acquisitions. He serves on The UHNW Institute’s Leaders Council. He’s actively involved in the Atlanta community as chair of the board of the Collective Learning Academy and Buckhead Buddy Baseball commissioner and coach. Deriso earned an MBA from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s from Vanderbilt University.

Hilsman is a frequent speaker in the wealth management and family office industries on topics related to multi-generational families and family enterprises. Active in the Columbus community, Hilsman is chair of the Piedmont Columbus Regional Foundation and a board member of the 1909 Preservation Society. Hilsman earned an MBA and bachelor’s from the University of Georgia.

Synovus Bank, a Georgia-chartered, FDIC-insured bank, provides commercial and consumer banking in addition to a full suite of specialized products and services, including wealth services, treasury management, mortgage services, premium finance, asset-based lending, structured lending, capital markets and international banking. Synovus has branches in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. Synovus is a Great Place to Work-Certified Company. Learn more about Synovus at synovus.com.

The Family Office at Synovus, founded in 1947, is dedicated to helping ultra-high-net-worth families identify and achieve their financial and family goals and aspirations. With 45 team members and $11.0 billion in assets under administration, The Family Office at Synovus provides comprehensive investment management, wealth strategies, fiduciary services, and family enterprise services to families in the U.S. and internationally. Family Office team members develop deeply personal client relationships and create integrated strategies that uncover and address each family’s challenges, motivations, goals and needs. The Family Office at Synovus is on the web at synovusfamilyoffice.com and on LinkedIn.

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