Brian Best was appointed the new president/CEO of the $1.8 GTE Financial, the Tampa, Fla.-based federal credit union said May 27.
He replaced former president/CEO Joe Brancucci, who retired in March.
Best joined GTE Financial's executive team in 2010 and served as its executive vice president and senior vice president/chief experience officer.
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Before GTE Financial, Best was COO and chief lending officer for the $2.2 billion Grow Financial Federal Credit Union in Tampa for three years. He also worked as a vice president for Bank of America for more than a year.
Best was named acting president/CEO in January when Brancucci took a leave of absence to allow the board to conduct a review. The results of that review were never publicly disclosed.
"Having worked with Brian over the last six years, the board of directors has observed and deeply appreciated his member-centric approach and focus," Rick Hagan, GTE Financial's board chair, said in a prepared statement. "He is a very humble leader who is passionate about the credit union, genuinely believing in serving others and putting people first."
As the new CEO, Best said he will focus on returning value to the membership by forging new paths with service-minded innovation while continuing the credit union's emphasis on giving back to the communities it serves.
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Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
