Robert R. Hill, Jr., CEO for South State Corporation (NASDAQ: SSB) announced today that James C. Mabry IV has been named executive vice president of Investor Relations and Mergers/Acquisitions of the company.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150818006323/en/

Mabry brings over 30 years of investment banking experience to South State Corporation. Since 2000, he has served as managing director of Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, a Stifel Company. In this role, he has directed the firm's southeastern U.S. activities in mergers and acquisitions, strategic advisory services and capital markets assignments for banking companies. He began his career in 1983 with KBW in New York and in 1991 joined First Union Securities (formerly Wheat First Securities) in Richmond, Virginia.

“I have worked closely with Jim for over a decade and he knows our company very well. Jim has an extensive background and knowledge of the banking landscape in the Southeast. His leadership and knowledge will help support our future growth initiatives and will make us a stronger financial institution,” said Hill. “Jim is a proven leader and will be a great addition to our management team.”

“We are excited to have Jim join our team after working with him for many years as a trusted advisor,” said John C. Pollok, COO and CFO. “The experience and understanding that Jim has of our company and the banking industry will serve him well as a member of executive leadership of South State.”

“I am pleased to join South State Bank, which has a rich banking history in the southeast. The company’s growth over the past five years has been quite remarkable,” said Mabry. “I’m looking forward to being part of a strong, proven entrepreneurial team focused on soundness, profitability and growth.”

Mabry and his wife, Cindy, will be relocating from Richmond, Virginia and will reside in Charleston, South Carolina.

An active member of the community, Mabry currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He is also a faculty member at the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University and a member of the Board of Directors of nCino, Inc.

Mabry received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1979 and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983.

South State Corporation is the largest bank holding headquartered in South Carolina. Founded over 80 years ago in 1933, the company’s primary subsidiary, South State Bank, serves the financial needs of its local communities in 19 South Carolina counties, 12 Georgia counties and 4 North Carolina counties. The bank also operates Minis & Co., Inc. and First Southeast 401K Fiduciaries, Inc., both registered investment advisors; and First Southeast Investor Services, Inc., a limited purpose broker-dealer. South State Corporation has assets of approximately $8.1 billion and its stock is traded under the symbol SSB on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. More information can be found at www.SouthStateBank.com.