CUES Names Heather McKissick as CEO
The announcement comes almost seven months after John Pembroke’s death.
On Monday, the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) announced Heather McKissick as the organization’s new CEO.
The news from the Madison, Wis.-based CUES came after an exhaustive search for a new leader after its President/CEO John Pembroke died on Nov. 21, 2022. Since Pembroke’s death, CUES SVP/Chief Administrative Officer Jerry Saalsaa has served as interim CEO.
According to the announcement Monday morning, McKissick most recently served as EVP of community impact, marketing and communication for the $4.6 billion University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) headquartered in Austin, Texas.
McKissick said, “Throughout my career, I have witnessed the transformative power of leadership development. Now, as the CEO of CUES, I am eager to leverage my diverse background and experience to help credit unions thrive and succeed in a rapidly evolving landscape. I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the board of directors. I can’t wait to work collaboratively with the CUES team, our valued members and our partners to shape a strategic vision that positions CUES as the go-to source for innovative leadership development for credit unions, driving growth and expanding impact.”
Kelly Marshall, CUES board chair and CEO of Summerland Credit Union in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Heather as our next CEO! The board is confident that her passion for our industry and stakeholders, purpose-driven focus and track record of fostering strong collaborative relationships will take CUES to its next level of success and expand the ways we benefit the industry as a whole.”
After the shock of Pembroke’s death in November, CUES formally launched a nationwide search for his successor in February. CUES retained the services of executive search and leadership development firm DDJ Myers to conduct the search.
According to CUES, McKissick will begin the new position on Aug. 1 and is not expected to relocate to Madison.
Along with her 10-year tenure at UFCU, McKissick previously served as president/CEO of Leadership Austin and as director of organizational development and education for a $5.5 billion non-profit health care organization.