An Augusta native is taking over the No. 2 job at one of the region’s largest banking companies, Synovus Financial Corp.
Kessel D. Stelling Jr. was named president and chief operating officer Monday for the Columbus, Ga.-based firm.
Stelling, 53, began his banking career in 1973 at the Georgia Railroad Bank, working in the printing department while in high school.
Stelling previously served as Synovus Regional CEO over the Atlanta market and President and CEO of Alpharetta-based Bank of North Georgia.
“I look forward to working with the exceptional team at Synovus to continue to build a strong company that brings value to customers,” Stelling said.
In his new role at Synovus, Stelling will oversee the company’s day-to-day banking operations and lead its commercial banking efforts.
Stelling’s immediate focus will center on leading the recently-announced charter consolidation. Synovus said it will restructure this year to consolidate 30 separate banking charters into one.
“With deep roots in Georgia and long-standing relationships with regulators and other key state officials, Kessel is one of the most highly-respected bankers in the state and is well-known as a visionary leader in the banking industry,” said Richard Anthony, chairman and CEO.
Stelling founded Riverside Bank in Atlanta in 1996 and guided its integration into Synovus 10 years later. After the merging of Riverside and Bank of North Georgia in 2006, Stelling was asked to lead the combined banks as President and Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, Bank of North Georgia’s locations have grown from 19 to 43 branches and have expanded to 17 counties in metro Atlanta.
He was promoted to Synovus Regional CEO for the Atlanta market in June 2008.
Stelling is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the Graduate School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University. He is the son of the late Kessel Stelling Sr., who served as Augusta comptroller for 30 years.
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