Smith Joins Synaxis as COO

Synaxis Group, the commercial insurance arm of First Tennessee, announced that Robert C. Smith of Atlanta has joined the firm as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Prior to joining Synaxis, Smith was senior vice president and principal of Reagan Consulting Inc., a financial and management consulting firm serving the independent insurance distribution system. While with Reagan, Smith personally consulted with over 250 independent agencies across the country, including approximately 30 of the 100 largest brokers measured by revenue.

He was with Reagan from 1987 through 1995 and rejoined them in 1999 after four years as COO and chief financial officer of Atlanta’s largest privately owned insurance broker. Smith began his career as a commercial lender for SunTrust Banks in Atlanta.

His areas of expertise are mergers and acquisitions, agency operations, and financial benchmarking for insurance agencies and brokers. Smith participated in the development, writing and editing of “The Best Practices of Leading Agencies” in the United States, which was commissioned by the Independent Insurance Agents of America. He also participated in writing and editing Self-Diagnostic Tool (SDT) that deals with many financial and operational issues currently facing the independent agency distribution system.

Synaxis Group is the eighth largest bank-owned insurance broker and the 38th largest brokerage in the U.S. With offices in Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville, Tenn.; Atlanta; Bowling Green, Ky.; and other locations throughout the Southeast, Synaxis Group provides insurance, bonds, employee benefits and risk management services to a wide range of public and private sector clients throughout the U.S.

Topics USA Agencies