Ameris chief abruptly resigns as latest acquisition closes

Ameris Bancorp in Moultrie, Ga., has its third CEO in less than a year.

The $16.4 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that Dennis Zember Jr. also resigned as president and stepped down from the board. The company said Zember, 49, left "to attend to family and personal matters."

Zember was succeeded by Palmer Proctor Jr.

Proctor was president of Fidelity Southern in Atlanta, which was just sold to Ameris.

Dennis Zember Jr.

Zember was CEO of Ameris for only a year. He took over the top post in July 2018 when Edwin Hortman Jr. retired.

Ameris also noted that five former Fidelity directors had joined its board, including James Miller Jr., who became executive chairman.

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