LONDON–Mark Lyonette, CEO of the Association of British Credit Unions, has announced plans to leave the organization in May.
Lyonette has been with Abcul for more than 20 years, the last 13 as CEO. He is leaving the British trade association for credit unions to join the National Pharmacy Association as its CEO.
While with Abcul, its membership nearly quadrupled and its member CUs’ assets have grown by almost 900%. According to Abcul, during his tenure Lyonette has also helped to secure various legislative reforms for credit unions and maintain proportionate regulation for the sector following the 2008 crisis. Abcul represents approximately 200 credit unions.
Lyonette was also chief executive of Abcul’s subsidiary, Cornerstone Mutual Services, which is responsible for the Credit Union Expansion Project. The government-funded project was designed to provide a core new banking system and mobile app for credit unions members. To date, just three credit unions of the 35 that signed up for the new common DP platform have gone live.
“It has been a great pleasure to have been part of the growth of the credit union movement for so many years,” said Lyonette in a statement to Cooperative News. “We have achieved a huge amount working together with our members. It has been a privilege and an honor to have had the opportunity to serve our members, their credit unions and the sector as a whole.
“I will be sad to leave the sector and many friends after so many years, but I leave behind me a strong management team which is dedicated to providing an excellent service to members, day in and day out,” he continued. “I have every confidence that the Association and the movement will go from strength to strength.”
Abcul has launched a search for a new CEO.