Synovus Financial announced that its board of directors nominated Tim E. Bentsen, former audit partner of KPMG, and Dr. Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina, to stand for election as directors at the company’s 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, scheduled for April 24, 2014.

“I look forward to gaining additional expertise and guidance from Tim and Harris as they join our board this year,” said Kessel Stelling, chairman and CEO of Synovus. “Tim’s extensive audit and corporate governance experience, and Harris’ background in risk management and leadership, will prove valuable as we make strategic decisions to drive future growth and profitability for our company.”

Bentsen worked more than 37 years with KPMG. He served as an audit partner for numerous banks and other financial services companies and in a variety of leadership roles, including Southeast area managing partner and Atlanta office managing partner. A frequent speaker on corporate governance matters across the country, Bentsen is a faculty member at the J.M. Tull School of Accounting at the University of Georgia.

Pastides is in his sixth year as the president of the University of South Carolina and previously served as the VP for Research and Health Sciences, Dean of the Arnold School of Public Health, and executive director of the South Carolina Research Foundation. Pastides is also a member of the local advisory board of NBSC, a division of Synovus Bank.

Synovus also announced that the following two incumbent directors have reached the mandatory retirement age for Synovus directors and will not stand for re-election at the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders:

Jimmy Yancey, who joined the Board in 1978, has served the company for 54 years, including 45 years as a team member. He worked in various capacities with Synovus and Columbus Bank and Trust (CB&T), including vice chairman of the board and president of both Synovus and CB&T, and chairman of the board of Synovus.

J. Neal Purcell, who joined the board in 2003, served as the chairman of the Audit committee and on the Executive and Risk committees of the Synovus board of directors. He is the retired vice chairman of Assurance for KPMG.

“I am grateful for the dedicated board service and commitment to our company from Jimmy and Neal,” said Stelling. “Jimmy’s many years of leadership to our company and commitment to customer service have made a lasting impact on the culture of our organization. Neal’s more than 40 years of accounting experience has also been a tremendous resource for our company. Their contributions and leadership will be missed.”