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The Family Office at Synovus Takes Home Three Prestigious Awards at Family Wealth Report Awards
We are thrilled to announce that The Family Office at Synovus has been recognized as a winner in three categories at the highly regarded 2023 Family Wealth Report Awards:
- Best Alternative Asset Manager
- Best Multi-Family Office - Client Initiative
- Outstanding Chief Operating Officer for The Family Office COO Michael Clark
Additionally, we were highly commended in the Best Multi-Family Office ($5-15 billion AUM) category.
The Family Wealth Report Awards are highly competitive and require nominees to demonstrate outstanding service to clients and commitment to the industry's best practices. Winning these awards is a testament to the innovation and thought leadership of our firm and speaks volumes about the quality of our services and our dedication to serving the needs of our clients.
“We are thrilled to be recognized with these prestigious awards,” said Katherine Dunlevie, president and CEO of The Family Office at Synovus. “Our focus is always on serving our clients and these awards are a testament to the hard work and perseverance of our team members in serving with excellence in everything they do for the families with whom we work.”
We are honored to be acknowledged among our industry peers and remain steadfast in our commitment to exceed expectations. The Family Office at Synovus is committed to providing highly personalized, customized solutions to suit the vision and goals of individual families. Our team is dedicated to empowering enterprising families to thrive – together. This is a critical component in helping clients achieve their financial and family goals and aspirations.
You can learn more about the 2023 Family Wealth Report Awards here.




The Family Office at Synovus Welcomes Walt Deriso to Lead Strategic Growth and Single Family Office Services
The Family Office at Synovus is pleased to announce the return of Walt Deriso to the team. Walt returns as the director of strategic growth and family office solutions, as well as the latest addition to its executive leadership team. As ultra-high-net-worth families and single-family offices increasingly seek specialized solutions and tailored wealth advice, Walt will lead the initiative to serve these unique families.
Prior to his return to The Family Office, Walt served as a founding shareholder at Atlantic Capital Bank in Atlanta, Georgia in 2006. At Atlantic Capital, Walt served in many roles, including private banker, commercial banker, and ultimately, as head of the family office practice, where he advised single and multi-family offices. Walt began his career at The Family Office, serving in multiple roles, including director of relationship management. His breadth of experience and expertise will be instrumental as The Family Office increasingly serves larger and more complex families and single-family offices.
“We are thrilled to welcome Walt back to The Family Office at Synovus,” said The Family Office CEO Katherine Dunlevie. “His proven track record in serving families and family offices, coupled with his deep understanding of our team’s values, will make him an invaluable asset for our colleagues and the clients we serve, as we seek to empower enterprising families to thrive.”
Walt officially returned to The Family Office in December 2022 and will be based in the Atlanta office at 3400 Overton Park. The Family Office looks forward to his leadership and contributions, as they continue to provide comprehensive and customized financial solutions to client families and single-family offices.
The Family Office at Synovus Recognized at the 2023 Private Asset Management (PAM) Awards
We are pleased to announce that the Family Office at Synovus has been named a winner in two categories at the 2023 Private Asset Management (PAM) Awards:
- Best Estate Planning Advisory Service, which recognizes a multi-family office or wealth management firm that has excelled in specialist estate planning services provided to high-net-worth clients.
- Best Family Office - Due Diligence Processes, which rewards a family office that has demonstrated exceptional policies and procedures when it comes to its investment due diligence procedures.
The Family Office at Synovus was also shortlisted in six other categories, including Best Philanthropic/Educational Initiative, ESG Advocate of the Year, Best Family Office - Long-Term Investment Philosophy, Best Multi-Family Office $10bn to $25bn, Best Outsourced CIO, and Best Fiduciary/Trustee Service.
“Our focus has always been on providing comprehensive service and customized strategies based on each family’s guiding principles,” said President and CEO of The Family Office at Synovus Katherine Dunlevie. “It's an honor to have our commitment once again recognized by the Private Asset Management Awards.”
This year marks the third year The Family Office at Synovus has been recognized by the PAM Awards, which highlights the accomplishments of the top investment professionals, wealth advisors, legal firms, consultants and other key service providers operating within the private asset management industry. Previously, the firm has been named a winner in the categories of Best Philanthropic/Education Initiative (2021), Best Outsourced CIO (2021), Best Multi-Family Office $2bn - $10bn (2021), Best Outsourced CIO (2022), and Best Impact Investment Offering (2022).
You can learn more about the PAM Awards here.