Women play a major role in First Horizon's leadership, with 60% of the executive management committee consisting of women. 

These leaders helped the bank quickly change its strategy when a $13 billion acquisition by TD Bank fell through due to regulatory concerns. The scuttled deal came amid several high-profile bank failures, challenging First Horizon to come up with a plan to compete without TD's ownership.

Pivoting to a go-it-alone strategy fell on the bank's senior management. The team included Chief Financial Officer Hope Dmuchowski; Tammy LoCascio, chief operating officer; Terry Akins, chief risk officer; Beth Ardoin, chief communications officer; Tanya Hart, chief human resources officer; Erin Pryor, chief marketing officer; and Susan Springfield, chief credit officer. 

"We faced an unforeseen future as an independent company," said Dmuchowski. "Our team went into overdrive."

These executives met frequently over the past year, assuring employees, clients and investors about the bank's stability and its future path for growth. First Horizon has since shown signs of recovery in its share price and early positives from a technology initiative designed to reduce overhead for the bank's staff. 

Following the canceled TD deal, First Horizon launched a campaign to boost deposits, offering higher rates on certificates of deposit. That increased First Horizon's customer acquisition costs, but it also attracted more than 32,000 new customers. 

Later in 2023, the bank lowered its introductory rates while retaining more than 96% of the new deposits. That move resulted in more than $6 billion in new deposits, according to the bank, adding that its overall customer retention rate over the past year is 90%. First Horizon was also able to retain more than 90% of its employees and has made several investments in the communities in its territory. 

Another major investment has been a $100 million initiative to accelerate technology development. That has included a 20% boost in the technology team staff and internal training to increase the overall staff's adjustment to automation. 

Technology strategy involves two innovation management teams. The emerging technology group is responsible for First Horizon's virtual bank, while an internal consulting unit focuses on quality and process improvements with input from the group and the bank's staff. 

The consulting group conducts monthly meetings with 30 front-line employees who provide feedback on ways to simplify operations. The bank's technology department, under LoCascio's leadership, reviews operations and staff feedback and identifies opportunities for improvement.

That work has resulted in more than 500 ideas with 80 projects underway. Recent projects include adopting Quick Deal, an nCino product designed to reduce navigation for internal work. That deployment has cut 1,500 hours in staff work on a yearly basis, 44% fewer screens, 21% fewer clicks and 20% fewer required fields when filling out digital forms for internal tasks.

"The investment in emerging technology has created tangible, economical value for the company and has transformed how the bank conducts business," said Bryan Jordan, chairman, president and CEO of First Horizon.

Team Members

Hope Dmuchowski, Chief Financial Officer 

Tammy LoCascio, Chief Operating Officer

Terry Akins, Chief Risk Officer

Susan Springfield, Chief Credit Officer

Beth Ardoin, Chief Communications Officer

Tanya Hart, Chief Human Resources Officer

Erin Pryor, Chief Marketing Officer