Darron M. Burnette has been named president and chief executive officer for Sea Island Bank.
Burnette succeeds D. Wayne Akins, who has served as president and CEO for 14 years of Sea Island, a division of Synovus Bank. Akins will transition into an expanded leadership role at Synovus and will continue to serve on the local Board of Directors for Sea Island Bank.
“Darron has the banking experience and team building skills to guide the outstanding bankers at Sea Island, and we look forward to the impact his leadership will have on the future success of the bank,” said Bruce Yawn, chairman of the Sea Island board.
“We will always be grateful for Wayne’s outstanding service to Sea Island, our customers and the Statesboro community. We wish him the best in his new role at Synovus, and look forward to his continued service to the Sea Island local Board of Directors.”
Burnette has more than 29 years of banking experience. He joined Sea Island Bank in 2002, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He has experience in a broad range of banking areas, including bank operations, business development, and lending and credit administration.
Burnette is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance, and was an honor graduate of the Georgia Banking School.
His list of community service includes work with the Coastal Georgia Alzheimer’s Association Board of Directors; chairman of Statesboro Walk to End Alzheimer’s; an instructor and class coordinator for the Georgia Banking School; and as a member of Kiwanis Club of Statesboro. In 2010, he received Synovus’ William B. Turner Humanitarian Award for outstanding service to others.