Among the notable additions is Adam Dings, who joined Fidus Partners in 2023. Dings brings over nine years of financial services experience spanning public accounting, valuation services, and investment banking. His industry expertise includes financial services, logistics and distribution, specialty chemicals, and healthcare. Prior to Fidus Partners, he honed his skills in healthcare investment banking at North Point M&A and Edgemont Partners, and also gained valuable experience at Lincoln International and PricewaterhouseCoopers earlier in his career. Dings holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting and finance from Villanova University and is a CFA charterholder.
Another key figure at Fidus Partners is John Cheek, a veteran with 20 years of investment banking experience with a focus on M&A and debt and equity capital raise transactions. Cheek’s extensive transaction experience covers the consumer, services, and building products sectors. Notably, Cheek has been with Fidus since its inception in 2005, demonstrating his long-term commitment to the firm. He also brings diverse perspectives from corporate operating roles held across various sectors. Cheek earned his bachelor’s degree in business, magna cum laude, from the Calloway School at Wake Forest University and actively contributes to his community, serving on the Board of Directors for Mental Health America of Central Carolinas.
Stephen Dockery is another seasoned professional at Fidus Partners, boasting over 30 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance, specializing in M&A transactions. Dockery’s deep expertise lies within the industrial, building products, and distribution sectors. He joined Fidus Partners in 2006, following a successful tenure as managing director and head of building products investment banking at Wachovia Securities. His background also includes a role as managing director in the M&A group at Wachovia Securities and as a corporate M&A attorney with Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., showcasing a comprehensive understanding of the M&A landscape. Dockery graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College, where he was valedictorian and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and holds a J.D. degree from Yale Law School, where he was managing editor of the Yale Law and Policy Review.
Further expanding the team are John Kuhns and Grant Fletcher, who joined Fidus Partners in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Kuhns, prior to joining Fidus Partners, interned with Spencer Stuart and graduated from Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s in business and enterprise management with a concentration in financial analysis. Fletcher holds a master’s degree in Accountancy with a concentration in financial markets and transactions from Wake Forest University and previously served as a research analyst with Harvard Business School. These additions represent the firm’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent alongside experienced leadership.
About Fidus Partners and PNFP Capital Markets
Fidus Partners operates under the umbrella of PNFP Capital Markets, Inc., a subsidiary of Pinnacle Bank. PNFP Capital Markets is a middle-market investment bank specializing in both M&A and capital advisory services. They focus on partnering with family-owned, founder-owned, and closely-held businesses, as well as financial sponsors. Their services encompass sell-side and buy-side M&A advisory, recapitalizations, capital raises, and strategic alternatives. Backed by a comprehensive capital markets platform and the resources of a leading regional bank, PNFP Capital Markets and Fidus Partners leverage their combined experience and industry expertise to deliver tailored service and effective advice to each client.
About Pinnacle Financial Partners
Pinnacle Financial Partners, the parent company of PNFP Capital Markets, provides a wide array of financial products and services, including banking, investment, trust, mortgage, and insurance solutions. They cater to businesses, business owners, and individuals seeking comprehensive financial relationships. Pinnacle Financial Partners holds the No. 1 bank position in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA and is nationally recognized, ranking No. 11 on FORTUNE magazine’s 2024 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® and consistently recognized by American Banker as one of America’s Best Banks to Work For.
With assets of approximately $50.7 billion as of September 30, 2024, Pinnacle Financial Partners has grown significantly since its inception in 2000 and operates across urban markets in the Southeast. More information about Pinnacle Financial Partners can be found at www.pnfp.com.
This expansion of the team at Fidus Partners underscores its commitment to providing exceptional advisory services and strengthens its position in the competitive investment banking landscape. The diverse backgrounds and extensive experience of these professionals will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success of Fidus Partners and its clients.
