Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida promoted Charles (Chuck) Shaffer to president and COO. In addition, Shaffer will become CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors in December. Shaffer currently serves as the company’s executive vice president, COO and CFO.
The company also promoted Tracey Dexter, the company’s current controller, to executive vice president and CFO. Dennis S. Hudson, III, the company’s current chairman of the board of directors and CEO, will become executive chairman of the board of directors in December. The company also promoted Jennings (Jay) Walker, the company’s current treasurer, to executive vice president, treasurer and director of corporate strategy.
Hudson took over leadership of the company from his father and uncle in 1992. Hudson’s grandfather originally chartered Seacoast in Florida in 1926.
“We’re transitioning leadership according to a careful and methodical plan we’ve had in place for some time,” Hudson said. “During the past several years, Chuck has demonstrated through his excellent execution of our balanced growth strategy that he is the right person to lead Seacoast. He’s been instrumental in positioning Seacoast for what we believe will be a vibrant future.”
Shaffer was appointed COO and CFO in May 2019 after serving as executive vice president and CFO since January 2017. He led the company’s community banking group from October 2013 to January 2017. Shaffer influenced Seacoast’s retail, commercial banking, wealth, digital and non-branch distribution strategies, and designed and worked across the organization at all levels to drive earnings performance. He served as senior vice president and controller from December 2005 through September 2013.
Hudson partnered with the company’s board of directors to orchestrate the planning and preparation for the transition to a new management team.
“During the last few years, we have added significant talent to our board of directors and have strengthened our management team to develop and implement a winning strategy. The leadership team has been very successful and we believe is well prepared to continue to build value for shareholders and customers utilizing this same strategy,” Hudson said. “While my role will change in December, as executive chairman and as the company’s largest individual shareholder, my commitment to ensuring Seacoast continues to outperform is stronger than ever. My commitment to preserve our culture and carry on my family’s legacy of customer service and support for the communities we serve will remain.”
Dexter, the company’s new CFO, joined in January 2017 as controller. Before joining Seacoast, Dexter was with PwC’s banking and capital markets practice for 12 years in audit and advisory roles, including senior manager in Florida, New York City and at the firm’s national office. Her areas of focus included SEC/financial reporting, capital markets transaction activity, internal controls and accounting policy.
Walker, treasurer and director of corporate strategy, joined the company in March 2010 and has been responsible for its balance sheet and investment management strategy and financial planning, and was the company’s controller from 2013 to 2015. In his new role, Walker also will be responsible for general corporate development and strategic capital allocation.
“Chuck, Tracey, Jay — they are all talented leaders and share a common vision of how to continue Seacoast’s disciplined growth and success,” Hudson said. “I have the utmost confidence in them and the rest of the executive team and am excited about the company’s future.”
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida is a community bank headquartered in Florida with approximately $7.4 billion in assets and $5.9 billion in deposits as of March 31, 2020.
