ECUA Executive Director Resigns Just Three Months After Taking Job

The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is undergoing another leadership change after Executive Director Jason Yarborough resigned just over three months after taking the job.

The ECUA board voted 4-0 during a special meeting Friday to accept Yarborough's resignation.

Yarborough submitted his resignation Wednesday. ECUA has not publicly announced a reason for his departure.

Former ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody is returning to the utility to serve as acting executive director and oversee daily operations during the transition.

ECUA engineer Brian Reed is handling the executive director's duties until Woody takes over.

Yarborough was selected earlier this year following a nationwide search and began serving as executive director in July.

Under a separation agreement, Yarborough will remain on paid administrative leave through Feb. 16.

The leadership change comes as ECUA continues Hurricane Isaias recovery operations and deals with a series of water-system disruptions and boil-water notices following the storm.

However, ECUA has not publicly linked those issues to Yarborough's resignation.

Woody previously led ECUA before retiring from the executive director position.

The ECUA board has not yet announced its longer-term plans for selecting the utility's next permanent executive director.