Tony Jenkins, Central Florida market president of Florida Blue, announced on social media Feb. 9 that he will be the company’s new market president for North Florida, succeeding Darnell Smith.
Smith announced on social media Feb. 4 that he will retire this summer.
“After 40+ years of calling Central Florida my second home, I’ll soon be returning to my roots and hometown of Jacksonville, FL to take on a new role as Market President for Northeast Florida at Florida Blue. I’m thrilled to be joining the team and following in the footsteps of my good friend and colleague, Darnell Smith, who recently announced his upcoming retirement,” Jenkins said on his LinkedIn page.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone in Central Florida who has made my time here so rewarding and enjoyable. I’ve had the privilege of building incredible friendships and partnerships over the years, and I’m proud of the tremendous impact we’ve made together in our community. While I’m excited for this new chapter, it’s not a goodbye - I’ll still be visiting occasionally and look forward to staying connected with you all,” Jenkins wrote.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Jenkins was Florida Blue’s Central Florida market president since 2006 after he was vice president for multicultural initiatives and diversity from 2001-06.
Previously, Jenkins was director of equity and inclusion at CSX Corp. from 1998 to 2000.
“The good news is that Central Florida will be in great hands. I’m delighted to announce that my right-hand for over 17-years and current Market Leader Tanya Easterling, has been promoted and named as my successor to serve as the new Market President for Central Florida,” Jenkins wrote.
“I have no doubt that Tanya has the knowledge, expertise, and passion to continue and build upon my legacy of success. I’m extremely proud of her and excited to see the great things she’ll accomplish. Thank you again to everyone in Central Florida for being part of my amazing journey. I’m looking forward to this new chapter in Northeast Florida, and I’m confident that our team will continue to thrive and make a positive impact in the many communities we serve.”