Synovus, the Columbus, Georgia-based financial services company, today announced that Wayne Akins will transition into an expanded leadership role as chief community banking officer of Synovus. Darron M. Burnette succeeds Akins as president and chief executive officer of Sea Island Bank, a division of Synovus Bank, in Statesboro. Akins will be responsible for sales and service, and product development strategy and delivery across the Synovus footprint, focusing especially on consumer and business banking, and partnering on the development of the company's commercial strategy.