Guardians CU's CEO Steps Down After 44 Years

In May 1978, a 19-year-old John Deese began his career at the West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Guardians Credit Union as its manager. Soon after, while attending college, Deese was named Guardian’s president/CEO. Forty-four years later, on Dec. 31, 2022, Deese stepped down to begin his new life in retirement.

In a statement on Wednesday from Guardians ($303 million in assets, 35,909 members) announcing Desse’s retirement, the credit union said it is actively searching for its next leader.

During his tenure as president/CEO, Deese grew the credit union’s assets from $1 million to its current asset size of more than $300 million. Most notably, according to Wednesday’s statement, Deese led the credit union in the development of new products and services, as well as helping the credit union become “a pioneer in the State of Florida for banking cannabis businesses as Safe Harbor Florida a division within Guardians Credit Union.”

Deese also served as a board member for CUNA and the National Credit Union Foundation, as well as a board member, treasurer, vice chairman and chairman of the Florida Credit Union League. He was an active supporter and contributor to the World Council of Credit Unions and Inclusiv, as well as locally for the Palm Beach Chapter of Credit Unions where he served as president and treasurer. “And, as a strong political advocate, he proudly served on the credit union’s Governmental Affairs Committee for nearly his whole career, spending much of his time meeting with local, state and national politicians, lobbying on behalf of credit unions,” according to Guardian’s statement.