New Healthcare Head
First Horizon Bank Appoints Craig Bechtel to Lead Corporate Healthcare Team
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First Horizon Bank (NYSE: FHN) has named Craig Bechtel as Specialty Director and Group Head of its Corporate Healthcare team, the Memphis-based bank announced on June 18, 2026, according to PR Newswire. Bechtel, a banking veteran who previously served as Senior Vice President and Commercial Banker for First Horizon in Nashville, will lead efforts to deliver capital solutions to healthcare companies across the United States.
The move is part of a broader push by the $84.1 billion bank to grow its specialty lending business. It comes just one day after First Horizon announced five senior leadership appointments in Atlanta, signaling an aggressive expansion across the Southeast, PR Newswire reported.
Bechtel Steps Into a High-Stakes Healthcare Role
Kevin Beeson, Executive Vice President and Director of Specialty Banking at First Horizon, praised the hire. "Craig brings tremendous industry knowledge, a client-first mindset, and a highly strategic approach," Beeson said. "His depth of experience makes him exceptionally well-positioned to lead our corporate healthcare team," according to PR Newswire.
Bechtel's team will focus on middle-market healthcare companies. These are businesses like hospitals, physician platforms, and medical device firms that need large amounts of capital to grow. Healthcare sits inside First Horizon's Commercial and Industrial loan book, which makes up 53% of its total $63.7 billion in loans, per Yahoo Finance.
First Horizon 2.0: From Merger Target to Specialty Lender
The Bechtel hire is a direct result of First Horizon's "First Horizon 2.0" strategy. In May 2023, a planned $13.4 billion merger with TD Bank collapsed due to regulatory delays. Instead of finding a new buyer, the bank pivoted to building out high-growth specialty niches like energy, franchise finance, and healthcare, according to Barchart.
The strategy appears to be working. First Horizon posted net income of $956 million in 2025, up 38% from 2024. Total assets grew to $84.1 billion by March 31, 2026. The bank also raised its quarterly dividend to $0.17 per share in April 2026, up from $0.15, a sign of financial strength, Yahoo Finance reported.
Healthcare Finance Fills a Gap Left by Private Credit
Traditional banks like First Horizon are stepping in as private credit faces tighter regulation in 2026. Private credit refers to loans made outside of public markets, often by hedge funds or private equity firms. As regulators squeeze that sector, healthcare companies are turning back to regional banks for funding, according to ADVFN.
First Horizon already has deep roots in healthcare real estate. Nearly 50% of its medical-related office loans — part of a $14 billion commercial real estate portfolio — go to the medical industry, per SEC filings. Bechtel's new role builds on that foundation by adding focused leadership to a business the bank already treats as a core strength.
Wall Street Watches as FHN Eyes Its Next Growth Quarter
First Horizon's stock traded at roughly $25.04 following the announcement, reflecting a 33% gain over the past year. Analyst firm D.A. Davidson holds a "Neutral" rating with a $26.00 price target. The firm sees leadership hires as positive but notes that revenue growth remains in a measured 3% to 7% range, according to MarketScreener.
The bank's next big test comes on July 15, 2026, when it reports Q2 earnings. Investors will look for signs that Bechtel's healthcare team and the Atlanta expansion are translating into real loan growth. The bank's capital cushion — a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 10.63% — gives it room to keep investing without taking on undue risk.
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