Longtime Sarasota bank executive, politico to chair national trust board

A new board chair has been appointed to the Canandaigua National Trust of Florida, following a retirement. 

Sarasota-based Christine Jennings will take over the seat as George Hamlin IV retires, according to a statement. Jennings, a Democrat who ran an unsuccessful race against current U.S Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, in 2006 and 2008, has been serving on the CNTF board since 2015. 

Jennings was the senior vice president and chief lending officer of Liberty National Bank in Manatee County before she founded and chaired Sarasota Bank for nearly 15 years. 

“Christine’s leadership, acumen and deep passion for the Sarasota community are true assets to CNTF,” Sam Guerrieri, executive vice president of CNTF, says in the release. “She has played an instrumental role in the success of our Sarasota office.” 

CNTF, an affiliate of Canandaigua National Bank and Trust Co., provides retirement, investment management, trust and estate services. In 2009, the firm opened a wealth management and trust office to extend its service area into south Florida. The parent company is headquartered in Canandaigua, New York. 

“I am proud to be part of the CNTF family. Our parent company, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust was founded over 100 years ago,” Jennings says in the release. “Their reputation is established as a strong financial institution with exceptional customer service and dedicated employees.” 

In the new position, Jennings is leading a nine-director board.