Meet Our Team

Morgan Asset Management
Brian B. Sullivan, CFA
President & Chief Investment Officer
Birmingham, Alabama

Brian Sullivan is President and Chief Investment Officer of Morgan Asset 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.

John Boston, CFA
Senior Vice President, Director of Fixed Income
Birmingham, Alabama

Mr. Boston joined what is today known as Morgan Asset Management in 1987 and is currently Chief Fixed Income Officer responsible for fixed income strategy and the management of several large institutional accounts. He currently supervises a staff of professionals responsible for the direct management of discretionary fixed income assets. . Prior to the merger between AmSouth and Regions in November 2006, Mr. Boston was the Director of Fixed Income for AmSouth Asset Management, Inc. Mr. Boston's investment experience began when he joined the Trust Investment Department of AmSouth Bank in 1988 and his responsibilities have grown steadily. Mr. Boston received a B.S. in Finance and Political Science from the University of North Alabama. Mr. Boston is a CFA charterholder and a member and past president of the CFA Society of Alabama.

Guillermo R. Araoz, CFA
Senior Vice President, Director of Equities
Birmingham, Alabama

Mr. Araoz joined in June 2003 and is currently the Director or Equities. Mr Araoz manages the team of equity analysts focused on specific sectors of the market. Additionally, Mr. Araoz is responsible for management of Equity Model Portfolios for separately managed accounts and he also develops quantitative stock selection programs. His industry experience began in 1996. Prior to joining, MAM, from 2000-2003, Mr. Araoz worked for Goldman Sachs as an Investment Banker, where he was responsible for conducting financial analysis and business planning for Goldman's e-commerce ventures. From 1996-2000, Mr. Araoz was an Economist for JP Morgan where his responsibilities included conducting U.S. macroeconomic analysis. Mr. Araoz received a B.A. with High Honors in Economics from the University of California, Davis and a Masters in International Economics from John Hopkins University. Mr. Araoz 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 what is today known as Morgan Asset Management in August 2001. He is currently the Head of Fixed Income Credit Analysis. Prior to the merger between AmSouth and Regions in November 2006, Mr. Partridge was the Director of Fixed Income Research for AmSouth Asset Management, Inc. 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.

Charlie A. Murray, CFA
Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Mobile, Alabama

Mr. Murray joined what is today known as Morgan Asset Management in June 1972. Mr. Murray currently manages several large institutional separate accounts and previously managed RMK Equity and Balanced Funds. Prior to the merger between AmSouth and Regions in November 2006, Mr. Murray was a Portfolio Manager for legacy Morgan Asset Management serving in a similar role as he is today. 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.

Matt R.  Smith, CFA
Senior Vice President, Regional Portfolio Manager
Birmingham, Alabama

Mr. Smith joined what is today known as Morgan Asset Management in June 1988 and is currently a Regional Portfolio Management head for the Alabama, Georgia, South Louisiana, Mississippi & Virginia regions. He is responsible for actively managing personal, charitable, and institutional assets for trust and investment management accounts. Mr. Smith serves on various decision making, oversight, and compliance committees. Prior to the merger between AmSouth and Regions in November 2006, Mr. Smith was a Portfolio Manager for AmSouth Asset Management, Inc. Mr. Smith’ industrial experience began in 1988. Prior to joining, from 1985-1988, Mr. Smith worked as an Admissions Assistant for the University of Alabama. Mr. Smith received a B.S. from the University of South Alabama and a M.A. in Finance from the University of Alabama. Mr. Smith is a CFA charterholder and a current member of the CFA Society of Alabama.

George S. Linardos, CFA,
Senior Vice President, Regional Portfolio Manager
Clearwater, Florida

Mr. Linardos joined the firm in 2001 and is a Senior Portfolio Manager and regional portfolio management head responsible for Florida. Mr. Linardos is responsible for managing personal, charitable and institutional assets for trust and investment management accounts. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Linardos spent 16 years at a large Financial Corporation in Tampa, Florida as manager of the research and due diligence department, his responsibilities included economic and market forecasts, a published recommended stock list, formal product and company due diligence reviews, asset allocation strategies, and market commentary. Mr. Linardos received both a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Tampa. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, is a member of the CFA Institute and a Past President of CFA Tampa Bay.

Mr. Lincicome joined the firm in March 2008 and is currently a regional portfolio management head for the Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky and areas of Louisiana. He is responsible for managing personal, charitable, and institutional assets for trust and investment management accounts. Mr. Lincicome serves on various decision making, oversight, and compliance committees.  Mr. Lincicome’s industrial experience began in 1987 and he has held portfolio management and investment representative positions at three national investment firms. Mr. Lincicome received a MA in Business Administration, from the University of Texas- Permian Basin and a BS in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri- Rolla.  He is a member of the North Little Rock Kiwanis and a member of the Board of Directors for the Central Arkansas Boys & Girls Club. Mr. Lincicome is a CFA charterholder and a current member of the CFA Society of Arkansas.

John Mark McKenzie
Senior Vice President, Regional Portfolio Manager
Nashville, Tennessee

Mr. McKenzie joined the firm in 1984 and is a Regional Portfolio Manager responsible for management of personal, charitable and institutional assets for the trust and investment management accounts in Tennessee. Mr. McKenzie serves on various decision making, oversight and compliance committees. Mr. McKenzie’s industrial experience began in 1981 and he has served in portfolio management roles with Deposit Guaranty Bank, First American National Bank, AmSouth and Regions Bank. He has also served as a mutual fund manager for equity, fixed income and money market funds at various times with these firms. Mr. McKenzie received a B.B.A. degree in banking and finance from the University of Mississippi and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School Of Law. He is a member of the Society of Financial Analysts, the Mississippi State Bar Association and holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation.