Board members of the $4 billion Space Coast Credit Union were working on a leadership succession plan when their President/CEO Douglas Samuels died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 57 on May 12.

“Always the watchdog, Doug expressed a concern to the board that a leadership succession plan was needed to protect the credit union, and in early 2017 the board expressed its intention of pursuing Timothy M. Antonition, executive vice president and chief operating officer as Doug's successor,” Dale B. Neubert, Space Coast's board chair, wrote on the credit union's blog post. “We were deeply saddened over our loss, but thankful to Doug that he had the foresight to prepare and protect the credit union, as he always did.”

On Thursday, Neubert announced Antonition was officially appointed the new president/CEO of the Melbourne, Fla.-based credit union.

“Tim has built an impressive 25-year career at SCCU, having joined the credit union in 1992 as a document specialist,” Neubert wrote. “Tim advanced through the branch ranks, progressing to member service representative, branch supervisor, branch manager, and then area manager. In 1998, Tim was promoted to vice president of branch sales and services, South Brevard Region, and he assumed responsibility for all branch operations in 1999.”

 He was instrumental in implementing Express Services, a service delivery concept that was introduced in 1997 by Samuels. When it was launched, Express Services enabled existing and potential members to open deposit accounts and apply for loans in minutes over the phone, eliminating the branch wait time.

Antonition also oversaw a merger project with Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union in Miramar, which earned him a promotion to executive vice president of retail operations and chief operating officer in 2011. The merger, which was initiated and led by Samuels in 2009, doubled the credit union's size, created new operating efficiencies and expanded Space Coast's footprint south to Miami-Dade. 

“In every endeavor Tim has embodied our mission and the board has immense confidence in Tim's ability to lead the credit union through these challenging times, pursuing new heights, and realizing the growth potential in our Southern markets,” Neubert wrote.

Neubert also paid tribute to Samuels.

“First and foremost, Doug was a remarkable, selfless individual dedicated to his family and church.  Secondly, he was an inspiring and exceptional leader,” she wrote. “Doug began with SCCU in 1991 as vice president of information services, and in 1997 he was appointed president and CEO.  Doug was guided by principles, and focused on our mission of creating value for cooperative ownership.  Many of the benefits members enjoy today were introduced during Doug's tenure, including member rewards and free checking.”