The experience and expertise of our investment professionals is what drives out long term success. We are a company that values achievement and sets high performance standards. Below are the biographies of a few of our investment professionals.
Brian B. Sullivan, CFA
President & Chief Investment Officer
Birmingham, Alabama
Brian Sullivan is President and Chief Investment Officer of Regions Investment Management. Mr. Sullivan supervises a staff of professionals performing direct investment of discretionary funds and providing investment advice to other portfolios. Mr. Sullivan assumed his current position after the merger of AmSouth Bank and Regions Bank in November 2006, having previously served as President of AmSouth Asset Management. Mr. Sullivan joined First National Bank of Birmingham, later AmSouth Bank, in 1982. With AmSouth Asset Management, he served as head of Value Equity, Chief Fixed Income Officer, head of Employee Benefits Portfolio Management, Manager of Fixed Income Investments, Regional Trust Investments Manager, and Equity Research Analyst. Before joining AmSouth, now Regions Bank, Mr. Sullivan served as a utilities analyst for the Public Service Commission of the State of Alabama. Mr. Sullivan is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and has served as President of the CFA Society of Alabama, of which he is a member. He received his M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Tulane University, and his B.A. in Economics from the University of the South. |
Equity Research Team
Francesca A. Smitherman, CFA
Vice President, Director of Equity Research
Birmingham, Alabama
Fran Smitherman, CFA, is the Director of Equity Research. She also serves as an Equity Analyst currently specializing in the Consumer Discretionary sector. She has worked in the investment management profession in a research capacity since 1997. During that time, she has covered many different sectors of the economy in addition to the Consumer Discretionary sector, including Consumer Staples, Telecommunications Services, Industrials, Diversified Financials and Healthcare. As a member of the Regions Investment Management Equity team, Fran participates in the management of the Total Return Opportunity Portfolio, the Equity Income Portfolio, and various other opportunity portfolios and institutional accounts. Ms. Smitherman is currently a member of the RIM Investment Strategy Group and has also served on the Asset Allocation Committee. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1996, and earned her Master of Arts in Banking and Finance from the same institution in 1997. She has her Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is on the Board of Directors for the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Alabama. |
Chris Watson, CFA
Vice President, Head of Value Strategies
Birmingham, Alabama
Mr. Watson joined the firm in 2005 and is the Head of the Institutional Value Strategies. He is also an Equity Analyst currently responsible for analyzing the Financial sector for the Equity Team. His industry experience began in 2000. Prior to joining, from 2002-2004, he worked for Regions Bank as a Corporate Banking Analyst, where he was responsible for purchasing loan syndications. From 2000-2002, he worked at a regional banking institution as Commercial Credit Analyst, where his responsibilities included credit underwriting. Mr. Watson received a B.A. in Finance from Troy State University and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Mr. Watson is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of Alabama. |
Charles A. Murray, CFA
Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Mobile, Alabama
Mr. Murray joined the firm in June 1972. Mr. Murray is currently a Portfolio Manager for Regions Investment Management, and is responsible for Growth equity strategies in RIM. Additionally Mr. Murray manages several large institutional separate accounts. Prior to joining, Mr. Murray was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His investment experience began in 1974. Mr. Murray received a B.S. in Marketing from The University of Alabama. Mr. Murray is a CFA charterholder and a current member of the Alabama Financial Analyst Society. |
David McGrath, CFA
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Mobile, Alabama
Mr. McGrath joined the firm in July 1999. Mr. McGrath is currently a Portfolio Manager for Regions Investment Management and assists in Growth equity strategies. His industry experience began in 1995. Prior to joining Regions, from 1995-1999, Mr. McGrath was a Registered Representative for Brown, Lisle / Cummings, where he was responsible for account management. Mr. McGrath received a B.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from the University of Memphis, and an MBA from Bryant College. Mr. McGrath is a CFA charterholder, and a member of the CFA Society of Alabama. |
Steven L. Edelman, CFA
Vice President, Senior Product Specialist and Director Consultant Relations
Richmond, Virginia
Mr. Edelman joined the firm in February 2010 and is currently responsible for expanding the visibility of Region Investment Management's (RIM) institutional investment products and working closely with the consultant community. Mr. Edelman’s industry experience began in October 1976. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Edelman spent 1985 to 2009 at Tattersall Advisory Group as a senior fixed income manager and product specialist for core fixed and LDI strategies. From 1982 to 1985 Mr. Edelman was a senior fixed income manager for the Florida State Board of Administration and was responsible for managing the bond portfolio in the retirement plan. From 1976 to 1982 Mr. Edelman was a trust officer with American Security Bank, Washington DC. Mr. Edelman received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics and his Masters degree in International Economics from the American University, Washington DC. Mr. Edelman is a CFA charter holder and is a member of the Richmond Virginia CFA Society. |
Fixed Income
John Boston, CFA
Senior Vice President, Director of Fixed Income
Birmingham, Alabama
Mr. Boston is Director of Fixed Income Investments for Regions Investment Management, a registered investment advisor and wholly owned subsidiary of Regions Financial. He leads a team of investment professionals that manage $4 billion in institutional fixed income assets. He is also a member of the firm’s Investment Strategy Committee. His investment experience began in 1988 when he joined the Trust Investment Department of AmSouth Bank. Mr. Boston received a B.S. in Finance and Political Science from the University of North Alabama. He holds a CFA charter and is a member and past president of the CFA Society of Alabama. |
Dorothy E. Thomas, CFA
Senior Vice President, Director of Tax Exempt Fixed Income
Birmingham, Alabama
Ms. Thomas is currently the Director of Tax Exempt Fixed Income. Her investment experience began in March 1983. Ms. Thomas joined AmSouth Bank in December 1972, and has held several positions throughout the AmSouth corporation including, Bond Analyst, Equity Analyst, Corporate Finance Manager, and Portfolio Manager. Ms. Thomas received a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ms. Thomas is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of Alabama. |
Gary Partridge, CFA
Senior Vice President, Director of Fixed Income Research
Birmingham, Alabama
Mr. Partridge joined in August 2001 and is currently the Head of Fixed Income Credit Analysis. His investment experience began in July 1977. Prior to joining. Mr. Partridge worked at The Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) on two occasions (1977-1985; 1994-2001). Over his two terms at the RSA he served as Director of Equities, Director of International Investments, Director of Fixed Income and Chief Economist. Between his two terms at the RSA Mr. Partridge worked from 1990-1994 as a Portfolio Manager and as a Director of Equities from 1985-1990. Mr. Partridge received a B.S. in Corporate Finance and Investment from the University of Alabama and an M.B.A. from Auburn University at Montgomery. Mr. Partridge served three times as President of the CFA Society of Alabama. |