Charles P. "Buddy" Darby

In 1988, Buddy Darby led an effort to acquire the resort community of Kiawah Island in South Carolina from a Kuwaiti development group. That effort is today the largest single real estate transaction in the state’s history. As CEO of Kiawah Partners, the island’s master developer, Darby would oversee development, sales, marketing, planning, and operations of the award-winning resort community for the next 25 years. Under his guidance, Kiawah Island has become one of the country’s top golf destinations and premier residential communities with more than $4.5 billion in real estate sales.

Darby enhanced the appeal of Kiawah Island by leading the creation of neighborhood shopping at Freshfields Village and extended Kiawah Partners’ global influence with the development of The Lodge at Doonbeg. Located in County Clare, Ireland, Doonbeg features residential cottages, exceptional accommodations and a Greg Norman-designed links course, which has been internationally recognized as a top-25 golfing destination by industry publications and travel writers alike.

In 2013, Darby sold Kiawah Partners and its affiliated properties, but retained ownership of the company’s newest endeavor on the Eastern Caribbean isle of St. Kitts. The project, known as Christophe Harbour, spans 2,500 acres of the island’s southeast peninsula and includes a 300-berth superyacht marina and village, 135 room Park Hyatt St. Kitts hotel, Tom Fazio golf course, and a range of exceptional waterfront properties.

Currently, Darby is a Stockholder of The Beach Company. He also serves on the Board of the MUSC Children’s Hospital, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and The First Tee of Greater Charleston.