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Delaware CIO Jim Sills Returns to Private Sector

After five years in Delaware, CIO Jim Sills is headed back to the banking industry, leaving the state's technology in better condition than he found it.

Delaware CIO Jim Sills will leave state government in September, the governor’s office announced on Aug. 11. After five years leading the state Department of Information and Technology (DTI), Sills will take a positon as president and CEO of Mechanics and Farmers (M&F) Bank.

Sills is credited with leading the state’s $80 million Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) upgrade, completed in 2010, consolidating redundant functions and resources, leading virtualization efforts that brought the state’s servers to being 85 percent virtualized, and expanding broadband access in Sussex County. This year, Government Technology recognized Sills as one of the public sector’s leading innovators, naming him one of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers.

“Jim has earned the respect of many throughout the state of Delaware, including the strong and capable team at DTI, who will continue to build on the efforts of the past five years,” Gov. Jack Markell said in a press release. “While we are sad to see him leave, we know his exceptional leadership skills and extensive banking background will serve M&F Bank well.”

Before becoming CIO, Sills served as chief operating officer of First Tuskegee Bank, and president and CEO of Memphis First Community Bank. Sills also served as executive vice president at MBNA America Bank, now owned by Bank of America.

“I want to thank Governor Markell for the opportunity to serve in his cabinet,” Sills said. “I have enjoyed my public service experience, serving the citizens of Delaware, and working with the Cabinet, Legislature, Judiciary, and K-12 school districts to enhance the technology offerings in the state of Delaware. It’s been a privilege to lead the staff at the Department of Technology and Information (DTI). We have accomplished and implemented many IT initiatives that have served the state and taxpayers well. I want to thank the DTI staff for their hard work and dedication.”

Sills also tweeted his pride in his time spent working for the The First State.

 

Starting new position with M&F bank in NC– Proud 2 have served w/@GovernorMarkell & to have led a great team @DE_DTI! http://t.co/iZUGWU8NGl — Jim Sills (@JimSillsDECIO) August 12, 2014
 

-- Colin Wood

Colin wrote for Government Technology and Emergency Management from 2010 through most of 2016.