Fred C. Sears

Fred C. Sears II is a longtime Delaware business and civic leader who has held various positions in local and state government. Sears had a 38-year career with four different banks in Wilmington, which concluded with serving as Regional President for Commerce Bank Delaware. During that time, he took a three-year leave of absence to serve as Finance Director and later as Economic Development Director for the City of Wilmington from 1974 to 1976. He was elected to Wilmington City Council and served two terms, from 1976 to 1984. Sears retired from his banking career in 2003 to take the position of CEO of the Delaware Community Foundation. 

Sears officially retired in December 2015, but he continues to serve on the Board of Applied Bank and on five non-profit boards, including the Beau Biden Foundation and the Hockessin Colored School #107. He also currently chairs Delaware’s Council on Development Finance and is Vice Chair of the Delaware State Port Corporation. Over the years, Sears has served on more than 55 non-profit boards in Delaware and numerous transition teams for elected officials from Mayor to Governor.

Sears has been honored with numerous awards, including the State Chamber of Commerce’s highest honor, the Marvel Cup, the Boy Scouts Citizen of the Year Award, the National Conference of Christians and Jews Annual Award, and the UNCF Distinguished Service Award. He was named to the Delaware Business Leaders Hall of Fame and was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Business from Goldey-Beacom College.

Sears is a sixth-generation Wilmington Delawarean. He graduated from Wilmington Friends and earned a B.S. in Business and MBA from the University of Delaware. From 1965 to 1971, he served in the Delaware Air National Guard.

Sears is married to Jo Ann Tigani Sears, and they have two married grown sons and four grandchildren, who all live in Delaware.