Wisconsin's new Republican governor, Scott Walker, promoted Ginger Larson, supervisor in the Office of Credit Unions, to director of the division on Monday.

She succeeds Suzanne Cowan, an appointee of former governor, James Doyle, a Democrat.

Larson, a former CU employee, had previously served as director of the division from 1996-2003.

In a formal statement, Brett Thompson, president/CEO of the Wisconsin Credit Union League congratulated Walker on the appointment, adding, "Wisconsin will have a very experienced and well qualified leader ensuring the continued strength and safety of the member-owned financial institutions that serve 2.2 million Wisconsin consumers."

Thompson said the league expects "to work closely with director Larson and state examiners to maintain the consistently strong performance of credit unions so that they can help individuals, families and small businesses in ways that for-profit institutions typically won't extend themselves."

Larson has been CU supervisor since 2003. She earned an MBA degree from Edgewood College and has served as a director of the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors.