David Wilkins, a former speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives and U.S. ambassador to Canada, has joined United Community Banks’ board of directors as the Blairsville, Ga.-based bank holding company adds a second director from the Palmetto State.
On the board, Wilkins joins Lynn Harton, president and chief operating officer of the company’s banking subsidiary, United Community Bank. Harton lives and works in Greenville.
He called Wilkins “the perfect addition” to the UCB board.
South Carolina is a growing part of the company, which has about three dozen offices, in excess of 350 employees and more than $2 billion in assets in the state, Harton said.
“We needed somebody that understood the market and understood the market from a statewide perspective and just honestly couldn’t think of anybody better to help us do that than Mr. Wilkins,” Harton said. “Fortunately, he said yes.”
Wilkins, a Greenville attorney, will work on the board’s risk committee. He does government relations work on the federal level.
“To have the opportunity to join such a dynamic bank at this point in its growth period is a real privilege,” Wilkins said in an interview.
Wilkins is one of two directors being added, with UCB’s board expanding to 10 members.
The board also appointed David C. Shaver, founder and CEO of Cost Segregation Advisors LLC, a national income tax advisory services company.
Shaver, a certified public accountant, once was controller of The Home Depot Inc., where he directed financial operations.
Wilkins served in the South Carolina House from 1980 to 2005, including 11 years as speaker. He was nominated as ambassador to Canada by President George W. Bush in 2005, serving until 2009.
He chaired the Clemson University Board of Trustees for six years and still is a member of that board.
He also is a board member of Porter Airlines, Mattamy Homes and Resolute Forest Products.
