NOVA Information Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp has appointed Christopher S. Kenyon as executive vice president and general manager of its First Horizon Merchant Services (FHMS) division, based in Englewood, Colorado. In his role, Mr. Kenyon will report directly to Stuart C. Harvey, Jr. at NOVA and will be responsible for managing the business. In a related appointment, Frank Jacobsen accepted the position of senior vice president, business development, reporting to Mr. Kenyon and responsible for sales and revenue initiatives.

Kenyon has been at FHMS since 1996 and most recently was chief information officer, responsible for transaction processing, information technology and vendor management. He has been in the merchant processing industry since 1985.

Jacobsen joined FHMS in 2001 with responsibility for business development, leading the sales and client management efforts for all channels including national accounts, healthcare and affiliate bank sales. He has been in the transaction processing industry for more than 25 years.

"These appointments demonstrate our commitment to further strengthening the FHMS business," said Stuart C. Harvey, Jr., president, NOVA. "As we continue to deliver on our aggressive growth strategy, it is essential that we align our business to deliver excellent service across the globe. Every part of the business must be focused on meeting client needs, and Chris and Frank will play a key role in ensuring that NOVA continues to deliver on its promises."

FHMS is the second largest acquirer of hospitality transactions in the United States, and its portfolio also includes retail, restaurant, healthcare and automotive businesses.