|
Mack I. Whittle has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of The South Financial Group since its inception in 1986. In December 2005, he assumed the role of Chairman. Mr. Whittle is also a Director of The South Financial Group and serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Carolina First Bank, the largest South Carolina-based commercial bank. The South Financial Group, the largest publicly-traded bank holding company headquartered in South Carolina, ranks among the top 50 U.S. commercial bank holding companies in total assets. At March 31, 2006, it had approximately $14.4 billion in total assets and 172 branch offices in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Mr. Whittle began his banking career in 1969 with Bankers Trust of South Carolina. From 1969 to 1986, he served in several capacities including Trust Officer, Vice President of Commercial Business Development, City Executive for Myrtle Beach, and Senior Vice President and Regional Officer. In January 1986, Bankers Trust of South Carolina merged with NCNB. Mr. Whittle resigned from NCNB in May 1986 to form Carolina First. Mr. Whittle founded Carolina First to serve individuals and small to medium sized businesses that were neglected as a result of takeover activities of South Carolina institutions by larger out-of-state banks. Mr. Whittle served as Chair for the 2004-2005 South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. From 2000-2004, he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the University of South Carolina. In 2003, Mr. Whittle was appointed to the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Mr. Whittle currently serves on many state and community boards, including the South Carolina Arts Foundation, The Palmetto Business Forum, South Carolina State Museum Foundation, Midlands Business Leadership Group, The Palmetto Institute, The SC Council on Competitiveness, and the Greenville Symphony Advisory Board. In 2006, Mr. Whittle was the recipient of the Free Enterprise Award for Business Ethics and Civic Responsibility.He is a Past President of the South Carolina Bankers Association and was named that organization's "Outstanding Young Banker" in 1988. In addition, Mr. Whittle created the Carolina First Foundation in 1999 to demonstrate Carolina First Bank’s commitment to elevate the quality of education in South Carolina and other markets served by the bank. In 2003, Mr. Whittle was awarded the Blue Ridge Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award. In 1993, Mr. Whittle was distinguished as the South Carolina Entrepreneur of the Year for Financial Services. In 1994, he was the University of South Carolina College of Business Distinguished Alumnus. Mr. Whittle was awarded the Whitney M. Young Humanitarian Award by the Greenville Urban League in 1995. Mr. Whittle received his undergraduate degree and a MBA from the University of South Carolina | 