He is well regarded throughout the banking community in Florida, having developed and executed upon several strategies that have resulted in long-term shareholder value for over 40 years. Mehdi began his banking career with Barnett Bank, the largest bank in Florida at the time, holding executive leadership positions in risk management, lending, and guiding and negotiating the disposition of more than $2 billion of problem loans and impaired assets. Mehdi was later named President and Director of Barnett Bank, South Florida, before being appointed Market President for South Florida by NationsBank (now Bank of America) upon its purchase of Barnett in 1998. There, Mehdi led the largest market nationwide for the combined company, at approximately $10 billion in assets. Mehdi later took on a new role as President and COO of BankUnited, FSB, followed by Executive Vice Chairman, where he grew and led BankUnited into becoming one of the largest homegrown banks in the state of Florida at the time of his departure in 2002. 

In 2004, Mehdi founded Great Florida Bank, successfully closing the largest De Novo raise of capital in the history of the US – before eventually going public. Mehdi grew the community bank to 28  branches and over $2 billion in assets at its peak. After successfully navigating the bank through the Great Financial Crisis, Mehdi negotiated the sale of the bank and its assets in 2014. 

He has come out of retirement to serve as managing partner of Noor Ventures.