SAN FRANCISCO–The $1.2-billion San Francisco Fire Credit Union has named Katherine “Kathy” Elser as its new president and CEO.
Prior to joining San Francisco Fire, Elser was CFO/SVP of finance and administration for Boeing Employees Credit Union in Tukwila, Wash., where she was responsible for overall strategic positioning of the credit union. Elser’s career includes 20 years with BECU. Earlier in her career she worked in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, and at various other financial institutions in both financial reporting and internal audit.
In 2012, Elser was awarded the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “2012 CFO of the Year” in the category- Large Private Company. She serves on various community and industry executive committees and boards of directors.
“What impressed us about Kathy is that she demonstrated the ability to balance prolonged growth while maintaining safety and soundness,” said SFFCU Chairman John Sweeney in a statement. “She has the experience to lead during a time when credit unions continue to face disruptive and competitive forces. Her robust industry network will also serve our members well.”
“San Francisco Fire is a vibrant and growing credit union that is deeply committed to its members and the communities it serves,” said Elser. “A commitment to members is a top priority and passion of mine. I’m excited to see how I can lead the credit union to new levels while never losing sight of delivering an exceptional member experience.”