Vernon Stafford Jr. is Executive Vice President and Chief Audit Executive for First Horizon National Corporation, a regional bank holding company. He is responsible for managing and directing corporate internal audit and credit risk assurance. He assists the board of directors, the Committees of the Board, and bank management in fulfilling oversight responsibility by evaluating the design, effectiveness and efficiency of the company’s internal controls. Stafford led the creation of the Audit and Assurance group and established a more robust credit assurance process.
Prior to joining First Horizon, Stafford, a commissioned national bank examiner, served in various agency leadership positions with the OCC for 33 years.
Stafford serves on the boards for Leadership Memphis, Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, and The Institute of Internal Auditors. In 2017, the 100 Black Men of Memphis recognized his commitment to serving and uplifting the community, specifically his role working with African American youth. He was recognized as a Distinguished Speaker by The Neal Corporate Governance Center of the University of Tennessee.
Stafford holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Roger Williams University.
