The board of directors of the $7.3 billion Suncoast Credit Union appointed Kevin Johnson (pictured) as the new president/CEO for Suncoast, Florida's largest financial cooperative.

Effective Oct. 1, 2016, Johnson will succeed 20-year President/CEO Tom Dorety, who announced his retirement in May.

Johnson joined the Tampa-based Suncoast in 1985, leading the organization's transition into information technology and heading its member contact center and payment services divisions.

Prior to his appointment, Johnson served as Suncoast's EVP and chief information officer, where he collaborated with Dorety, senior management and the board of directors on strategy and organizational leadership and was directly involved with strategic planning, product development, member support, digital delivery channels, payment services, industry partnerships, political advocacy and process improvement.

Johnson's compensation was $515,552, according to the credit union's 2014 IRS 990 documents. In that same year, Dorety's compensation totaled $1,084,600.

“Working with Tom Dorety has thoroughly prepared me, and I am grateful for his strong leadership under which I have served for over two decades now,” Johnson said in a prepared statement. “Tom has instilled in me, and in many others, the vision, work ethic and leadership skills that will make us all successful for years to come.”

Johnson also serves as board secretary of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions and as director of the board of the league's LEVERAGE Service Corporation.

Additionally, he is a trustee of the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation and a member of CUNA's payments subcommittee and the Symitar Advisory Board.

“The board of directors is fully confident in Kevin's capability to lead Suncoast forward based on his demonstrated leadership as well as his strategic initiatives for the industry as a whole,” Velia Pedrero, Suncoast's board chair, said in a prepared statement. “Kevin has been an advocate for Suncoast since he began his career here 31 years ago, and his impactful service gave us the certainty we needed in naming him to this position.”

Suncoast's 1,398 employees serve nearly 700,000 members and operate 60 branches throughout 21 counties.