Steve Groom has joined Franklin Financial Network as general counsel and executive vice president.

Groom has more than 40 years of experience as an attorney and comes most recently from the Nashville law firm of Neal & Harwell. In addition to the time he spent with private law firms, he has spent more than 27 years in executive and general counsel roles with two large public companies.

“Our board and executive management team are excited to welcome Steve. He has the skills and experience needed for a public company of our size and complexity,” said Myers Jones, interim CEO at the Franklin, TN-based bank.

Groom will be the bank’s first general counsel. Julian Bibb, who has served as the company’s chief legal counsel, oversaw the process of hiring the company’s first General Counsel. Bibb will remain as senior vice president and deputy counsel.