Six Credit Unions Appoint New CEOs in May

Throughout the month of May, the boards of directors for credit unions in Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Kansas, California and Michigan appointed new CEOs.

The board of directors at UVA Community Credit Union in Charlottesville, Va., announced the appointment of Susan M. Gruber as president/CEO.

She succeeds Alison DeTuncq, who served as CEO for 22 years and retired this month. During her leadership, UVA Community’s assets grew from $149 million in 2000 to its current assets of $1.4 billion, while membership expanded from 35,212 to 74,078, according to NCUA Call Reports.

Gruber previously served as CFO for the $9 billion Patelco Credit Union in Dublin, Calif. Her career also included serving as CFO for $1.8 billion Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union in Lowell, Mass; vice president finance officer for Bank of America in Boston, and vice president/strategic analysis for Brown & Company Securities Corp, also based in Boston.

“Overall, Susan brings us more than 30 years of experience as a collaborative leader who focuses on teamwork and member experience. She has a deep commitment to the mission driven nature of the credit union movement,” UVA Community Board Chair Jeffrey C. Moscicki said in a prepared statement.

North Carolina’s Charlotte Metro Federal Credit Union said Eric Gelly has been appointed president/CEO.

He succeeds Bob Burns, who is retiring but will continue to serve as a senior advisor to Gelly through Oct. 31.

During his nearly 40 years of service to Charlotte Metro’s members, Burns grew the credit union from $5 million in assets to its current assets of $1.1 billion, according to the credit union’s prepared statement. The membership also grew to more than 92,000.

“Bob’s life-long dedication to our credit union leaves a legacy of service and commitment which has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of members,” Charlotte Metro Board Chair Bruce Bellamy said in a prepared statement. “On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank him for his leadership and inspirational vision over the last four decades. He has been a leader that makes every member of our credit union feel special and every community supported.”

Gelly joined Charlotte Metro more than two years ago as COO. He previously served as president of CUNA Strategic Services, board chair of Advanced Fraud Solutions, executive director of Carolina Credit Union Services and COO for the Carolinas Credit Union League.

Tony Aylsworth will become president/CEO of the $945 million Heritage Federal Credit Union in Newburgh, Ind., on June 18.

He will succeed current President/CEO David Milligan, who will retire after four years of service, the credit union said in a prepared statement. Milligan joined Heritage in 2011 from Vectren Corporation where he was the manager of corporate audit. During his time at Heritage, he served as chief risk officer, vice president of e-services and deposit support operations before he was named CEO in 2018.

Aylsworth joined Heritage in 2018 as the chief risk officer and currently serves as the credit union’s president. He has more than 29 years of financial institution experience holding multiple positions such as director of regulatory risk management and director of compliance, as well as owning his own general law practice.

“Under David’s leadership, Heritage has realized significant growth. We are proud of the positive impact David has made on the members, employees and community,” Heritage Board Chair Tim O’Brien said in a prepared statement. “We are thrilled to announce Tony as our president and CEO. The transition could not have gone any smoother. We look forward to continuing the growth throughout the region.”

Bob Mayes will become president/CEO of the $647 million Mainstreet Credit Union in Lenexa, Kan., on June 1.

He will succeed current President/CEO John D. Beverlin, who will be retiring after 49 years of service, the credit union announced in a prepared statement.

Mayes joined Mainstreet in 2013 as its chief lending officer. Prior to Mainstreet, he served as the vice president of credit union support services for the Heartland Credit Union Association and has held senior level executive positions at other financial institutions.

The board of directors of the $383 million OUR Credit Union in Royal Oak, Mich., appointed Darren Cameron as president/CEO.

He will succeed Tina Dix, who will retire in July after 38 years of service.

Cameron holds more than 25 years of financial management experience and executive leadership at the $1.1 billion Vibe Credit Union in Novi, Mich., the $4.1 billion Genisys Credit Union in Auburn Hills, Mich., and JP Morgan Chase.

On Sept. 1, Jason Mertz-Pickett will become president/CEO of Upward Credit Union in Burlingame, Calif.

He will succeed current President/CEO Linda White, who will retire after more than 24 years of service.

White joined the credit union as a teller in 1985 and was promoted to supervisor and assistant manager. In 1998, she became CEO. During her tenure, Upward’s assets grew from $15.6 million to its current assets of $100 million, while membership expanded from about 3,000 to more than 4,500, according to NCUA Call Reports.

Mertz-Pickett has served as the credit union’s vice president of operations for more than five years.