ARLINGTON, Wash.–Two credit unions have announced CEO retirements, with one CU naming a successor and the other announcing a search.
The $146-million MountainCrest Credit Union in Virginia said President/CEO Mark Morrison will retire effective April 30, 2022.
“Mark has been an invaluable member of this credit union’s senior management team for the past 16 years, with the last 11 years as the president/CEO,” said Board Chairperson Bruce Landre. “We were hoping to keep him a bit longer, but we also understand his wish to retire while in good health and move to the Phoenix, where he and his wife Teresa just purchased a home.”
Morrison’s 44-year career began in 1978 working at then Safeway Credit Union (Qualstar CU) as a teller. He has since held executive positions at King County Credit Union (Harborstone CU), Seattle Telco Credit Union (Sound CU) and was president/CEO at Educational Community Credit Union before the merger with MountainCrest Credit Union in 2008. He has been the president/CEO at MountainCrest Credit Union since August of 2011.
During his credit union career, Morrison has served on many local, state, regional, and national committees. While he was working, he attained a master’s degree in business administration and other credit union credentials as a Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE), and a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE). In 2021 he received the Summit Icon Award at the Northwest Credit Union Associations MAXX convention for his lifetime of achievements in the credit union industry.
“I want to thank all the people that I have worked with over the years and let them know that I could not have accomplished the things I did without them,” Morrison said. “I hope to never get away from the credit union movement because I believe so strongly in what they do.”
Successor Named
Mountain Crest has named Susan Webster, the longtime EVP/ CFO of the credit union, will become president/CEO effective May 1, 2022.
“She was the natural choice having worked under three strong CEOs in her MountainCrest career. She has been a pillar at MountainCrest Credit Union for the past 34 years after receiving her BA in Business Management from Eastern Washington University,” the credit union said.
Webster began her career in 1988 as a teller and has held various other positions throughout her career at the credit union. Webster was named CFO in 2000.
New CEO in Massachusetts
Meanwhile, in Shrewsbury, Mass., Central One FCU President/CEO David A. L’Ecuyer has announced his plans to retire in 2022.
L’Ecuyer has been Central One’s top executive since 1994. During his 28-year leadership tenure, the credit union’s assets have grown seven-fold to $735 million and membership has more than doubled to over 35,000 members. As only the second CEO in Central One’s 70-year history, L’Ecuyer has orchestrated the transition from a small occupational-based credit union for New England Electric System employees to one of the largest federal credit unions in central Massachusetts, the credit union said.
L'Ecuyer began his career at Central One as an assistant manager in 1990, and was promoted to manager of operations in 1991. He has volunteered numerous hours in community service and in helping the industry. He has served on the boards of several different local and regional organizations, the credit union added.
“In 1998, L’Ecuyer led Central One’s change to a community-based credit union, paving the way for enhanced products and services and branch expansion in more communities,” Central One said. “All through this expansion, his team has taken great pride in continuing to provide world class service to all its members and earned extremely high member satisfaction ratings.”
In March of 2021, Central One FCU said L’Ecuyer initiated the further expansion of its FOM to all of Worcester County as well as parts of Middlesex and Norfolk counties.
“His belief in team-building, training, employee empowerment, and supporting technological advances has allowed Central One to deliver more services and security to its members, from extensive mobile and web-based services to shared branching with thousands of other credit unions across the U.S.,” the CU said, noting L’Ecuyer also oversaw the launch of the Central One Retirement & Investment Center and Oak Tree Insurance Agency.
‘Gratifying and Fulfilling’ .
“I have had a truly gratifying and fulfilling career over the past 32 years with Central One Federal Credit Union,” said L’Ecuyer. “It has been a privilege to work with such a talented and inspiring staff, and I am incredibly grateful for the support and confidence shown by the Board of Directors over the course of my tenure here. By working together with our fantastic management team, staff, and community, Central One Federal Credit Union is a financial institution that understands and meets the needs of its members, wherever they happen to be.”
The credit union has retained D. Hilton Associates to handle the CEO search.