Warren Butler, president/CEO at Georgia United Credit Union is the latest longtime leader retiring this year. 

After some 29 years, Butler  has announced he will retire effective December 31, 2012. Executive Vice President Douglas B. Foote has been tapped to succeed Butler as president/CEO of the Duluth, Ga.-based credit union.

Since he joined the credit union in 1983, Georgia United has grown from $25 million in assets one office location, and 17,000 members to over $900 million in assets, 16 branch locations, and 115,000 members. Butler has also been active in the credit union community serving on numerous boards including serving as chairman of the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates board and as chairman of the Credit Union Foundation.

Foote has more than 20 years experience in the financial services industry and joined Georgia United as senior vice president/chief operating officer in April 2003 after serving EXCEL Federal Credit Union as its executive vice president.  Over the years his responsibilities have grown from overseeing lending programs and the branch network, developing an e-branch call center to creating a business lending program and overseeing branch operations, lending, operations, business development and marketing. He also led the credit union through two successful mergers with University of Georgia Employees Credit Union and State Employees Credit Union respectively.

To ensure a successful executive transition, Georgia United's Board of Directors has had a succession plan in place for some time.