Veteran banker and businessman Gordon Inman began his role as Chairman, FirstBank Middle Tennessee, at the beginning of the year, 10 months after stepping down as chairman of the board for Fifth Third Bank Tennessee.

“I have the deepest respect and admiration for Gordon,” said FirstBank Chairman Jim Ayers. “His experience in the business world, his experience as a banker and his involvement in the community make him a perfect fit for our culture and our expansion efforts here at FirstBank.”

Inman is looking forward to getting back into banking and joining a bank that he believes is poised to be the dominant bank in Middle Tennessee.  FirstBank has quietly been moving into the Nashville and Middle Tennessee markets and will accelerate its investment in this area.

“Jim Ayers and his team have created the third largest Tennessee bank. As a longtime friend, I respect both his business and philanthropic successes in Tennessee. I am excited to be on the same team, and I look forward to creating a stronger presence in the Nashville and Williamson County area.” Inman said. “I have had the honor to work with some of the best bankers in the state and I am excited to be able to expand that group to include FirstBankers.”

Inman was a founding member and major shareholder of Franklin Financial Corporation, holding company of Franklin National Bank. When Franklin Financial was acquired by Fifth Third in 2004, Inman became chairman of Fifth Third’s Tennessee operations. He previously served on the Williamson County Bank board of directors and was a founder and director of the former First National Bank of Knoxville.  In 2008, Inman was honored by the Tennessee Bankers Association as a Leader in Banking Excellence.

Inman’s civic involvement demonstrates his passion for the community. He currently serves as vice chairman and trustee for Belmont University, and recently served on the executive committee of the Boy Scouts of America, and the board of the Nashville Symphony and Community Foundation. As a member of the Brentwood Baptist Church, Inman funded the first and only chapel in the country designed especially for the deaf.  Inman’s contributions to Belmont helped fund the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing building.

Inman was a founding partner in Nutri-System throughout an eight-state region and was the largest franchisee of the company. He was a founder of the Maryland Group, a public relations/advertising agency in Brentwood, and a founder of the Cellular One division in Middle Tennessee. He was also a founder and manager of The Nashville Scene newspaper, and has since sold his interest.