Corporate leaders retire, change jobs

Three very well-known corporate CU CEOs announced retirement plans in 2001. They all were CEOs of corporates over $1 billion. * Dick Johnson will step down as CEO of WesCorp early next year. Johnson’s storied credit union career is actually his second. He spent 30 years with the Marine Corps. before joining WesCorp in 1976. The 78-year old Johnson said his body is wearing down a bit and this was as good a time as any to retire. He plans to stay active in the industry. The search is on for his replacement. * Don Finn announced plans to retire as CEO of the $3.8 billion Mid-States Corporate, Naperville, Ill., after 37 years with the corporate. Finn was a pioneer at Mid-States, helping to actually form the corporate. Finn was replaced by David Preter, the former president/CEO of Georgia Central CU. One of the last things Preter did with Georgia Central CU is help set up a potential merger with Southwest Corporate FCU. That merger eventually failed. * James Taylor retired as president/CEO of the $2.8 billion Southeast Corporate FCU, Tallahassee, Fla., this past June. Taylor was CEO for 23 years. Taylor was with Southeast Corporate from the very beginning when it was being run by the Florida CU League. Taylor was replaced by Bill Birdwell, who prior to the SECORP job was serving as CFO of WesCorp. Birdwell has been particularly active in his so far short stint as CEO. He spearheaded the opening of an item processing facility in Jacksonville, with another to come in South Florida next year. Birdwell has also adjusted the corporate’s product line and has put a greater emphasis on member service and marketing.