Pinnacle Financial Partners has named Charissa Sumerlin the firm?s chief credit officer effective immediately. She succeeds Harvey White, who served as interim chief credit officer following the sudden death of Tim Huestis in late 2023. The Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve Sumerlin?s appointment at its meeting on July 16, 2024.

Sumerlin joined Pinnacle in 2018 as a commercial real estate credit advisor and then moved into a senior credit officer position for the firm?s Charlotte, NC, and South Carolina markets. From there, she led the design and adoption of dual risk rating for commercial credits in 2021. In June 2022, Sumerlin became Pinnacle?s deputy chief credit officer as part of Huestis?

succession plan. Her responsibilities included monitoring and assessment of portfolio risk and concentrations; continuous improvement for reporting, systems and processes; and more. White has worked in credit for 50 years and at Pinnacle for 15.

He was the firm?s chief credit officer from 2009 to 2019, when he moved into the role of regional banking executive in the Knoxville, TN, market. White will continue to work on special projects in the credit arena.