Just months after leading the mega-merger of First Technology and Addison Avenue credit unions in Oregon and California, Benson Porter has been named president/CEO of $9.7 billion BECU in Washington state.

Porter will succeed retiring CEO Gary Oakland, taking over in April and working with the 25-year BECU CEO through a transition period the credit union said would last through mid-2012.

Porter became president/CEO of Addison Avenue in Palo Alto, Calif., five years ago and stayed on as CEO after it merged with First Tech, a move approved late last year and finalized earlier this year.

 “This was a very thoughtful and planned process to bring on board the right leader to help us carry forward our vision and strategic priorities while also preserving our culture,” said Desiree Serr, chair of the BECU Board of Directors.

Oakland said, “I truly believe that the team here at BECU will find Benson Porter to be a great fit and the best choice to lead BECU. Perhaps most importantly, he is someone whose style and values are a match with our culture, our employees, and will keep alive the focus on the member at BECU.”  

Prior to joining the credit union industry, Porter worked for the Washington State Senate Banking Committee and then at KeyBank and Washington Mutual in Seattle. He is a graduate of Whitman College and has a law degree from Seattle University.