Credit Union Resources Leads CEO Search for Carolinas Credit Union League

May 19, 2017 – These are critical days for credit unions. The U.S. has nearly 6,000 of them, with more than $1.2 trillion in assets, according to the National Credit Union Administration.

But with the steady retirement of Baby Boomers, among other factors, the cooperatives are facing the loss of more than 4,000 chief executive officers and senior managers over the next five years. This means that leadership development, succession planning and employee retention are more important than ever.

One group seeking new leadership is the Carolinas Credit Union League in Columbia, SC, which enlisted recruiters Credit Union Resources to lead the hunt for its new president and chief executive officer.

The position calls for the executive to take charge of strategically leading the Carolinas organization. It requires someone with proven leadership skills and executive level experience at a financial institution.

The Carolinas Credit Union League core mission is to be the primary advocate for credit unions, giving focus to the membership’s collective political voice. It unites the former leagues of North Carolina and South Carolina, each begun in 1934 by leaders committed to cooperation and the common goal of credit union growth.

Credit Union Resources is the executive search division of the Cornerstone Credit Union League, a regional trade association representing credit unions. Marcus Cotton, vice president of executive recruiting, leads the firm, which he joined in 2014, when he was brought in to develop and launch the organization’s recruiting practice. He now overseas executive search assignments ranging from senior management roles to president and CEO positions.

Just recently, Credit Union Resources was retained by WyHy Federal Credit Union (WyHyFCU) in Cheyenne, WY, to head its search for a chief lending officer. The assignment is being led by Mr. Cotton. The group chose Credit Union Resources, it said, based on the search firm’s expertise in financial services, specifically its work around credit unions. With branches in Cheyenne and Casper, WyHy FCU has nearly $215 million in assets and more than 13,800 members. It opened for business in 1953.

Credit Unions Witnessing Growth

“As the credit union industry continues to evolve in complexity and sophistication, the need for strategically placed business partners who can provide counsel on compensation, board governance and talent acquisition has never been more important,” said Mike Juratovac, sector leader of credit union and community banking in Korn Ferry Futurestep’s North America financial services practice. The industry as a whole, he said, has become more reliant on talent consulting services, including talent acquisition, workforce planning and employee development.

“We see enormous potential in this sector, as the popularity of credit unions is skyrocketing among consumers as they typically offer lower fees and better returns,” said Eric Goldstein, global market leader, Korn Ferry Futurestep financial services. “Additionally, following the 2008 financial crisis, many U.S. consumers moved their savings from large banks to credit unions and community banks.”

Turning to Search Firms to Find Talent

Credit unions have been coming to executive search firms in droves to fill senior leadership roles. Here are a few recent assignments found in the Hunt Scanlon Media archives.

The Congressional Federal Credit Union in Oakton, VA, and Southern Mass Credit Union of Fairhaven, MA, turned to executive search firm D. Hilton Associates to find new CEOs. Congressional Federal Credit Union was started by eight Congressional employees in 1953, with just $40 in deposits. Today it has 47,000 members with over $900 million in assets.

McDermott & Bull recruited Val Scott as chief technology and innovation officer to Golden 1 Credit Union, the nation’s sixth largest credit union, with $10 billion in assets. The search was led by Brandon Biegenzahn, co-chair of the firm’s financial institutions practice, along with associate consultant Michelle Davis.

O’Rourke and Associates placed Brad Douglas as chief executive officer of the Heartland Credit Union Association (HCUA). HCUA is the not-for-profit trade association for credit unions which was formed through the consolidation of the Kansas Credit Union Association and the Missouri Credit Union Association.

D. Hilton Associates tapped Tracy McCord as VP of marketing at East Idaho Credit Union. East Idaho Credit Union was founded in 1935 as the Idaho Falls U.S. Government Employees Federal Credit Union. It remains one of the oldest Credit Unions in Eastern Idaho and operates under both a community charter and an expanded charter based on occupation.

Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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