RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Altura Credit Union announced some recent executive staff changes including the promotion of Robert Whitton to Chief Operating Officer, and Christopher Andrus filling the newly created post of Chief Culture Officer, in addition to serving as president of Altura’s CUSO Auto Expert. Additionally, Aaron Lynn has been promoted to vice president of Auto Expert.
As COO, Whitton oversees the Member Service Center, the Member Service Center Support Team and all branch locations. Whitton originally joined Altura in 2004 as a Member Service representative before being promoted to an operations analyst. He moved steadily up through the organization to Member Support manager in 2010, director of the Member Service Center in 2011, and vice president of Member Service Center and Electronic Channels in 2014. He takes over the COO position from Jennifer Binkley who was recently named Altura’s president and CEO by the Board of Directors.
Andrus joined Altura in 2003 as an associate vice president of Business Development for Auto Expert, Altura’s auto locating and buying service. In 2004 he was promoted to vice president, and 2008 was named president of the successful company. In his new role as chief culture officer, Andrus will manage internal and external brand and culture development strategies to ensure consistent messages for all key audiences both within and outside of the organization. In this new alignment, Andrus will oversee marketing and business development.
Lynn joined Auto Expert in 2007 as a sales advisor and in 2008 was promoted to regional sales manager. During the recession, Lynn wore a number of hats and was responsible for a number of activities.
In 2015, he again filled the recreated position of Sales Manager. As vice president, he now oversees day-to-day operations, including vendor and partner relationship management, and member service resolutions. He also manages a 15-person team of sales advisors and a small back-office team.