Credit Union CEOs Announce Plans to Retire in 2024

John Hirabayashi, president/CEO of Community First Credit Union in Jacksonville, Fla., and Timothy Benecke, president/CEO of Wildfire Credit Union in Saginaw, Mich., have announced their plans to retired in 2024.

Hirabayashi joined the credit union as CEO in 1996.

During his tenure, the credit union grew assets from $257 million to its current assets of $2.6 billion, while loans increased from $208 million to $1.8 billion and membership expanded from 49,000 to more than 170,000 members, according to NCUA Call Reports.

“This evolution and growth reflect the credit union’s mission to improve quality of life and banking services to residents and businesses of the Jacksonville region,” Hirabayashi said in a prepared statement. “I’m honored to lead Community First to live its ‘purpose’ by empowering its employees, members and the community to live their best lives.”

Community First’s 400 employees manage 19 branches.

CFCU Board Chair Malinda “Lindy” Prudencio said the board of directors has adopted a comprehensive succession plan to professionally manage this process. Prudencio will lead the search for a new CEO that will launch in October and take about nine months.

Benecke joined Wildfire Credit Union in 2008.

During his CEO tenure, the credit union increased assets from $454 million to its current assets of $1 billion, while loans grew from $191 million to $573 million and membership expanded from 31,000 to more than 47,000, according to NCUA Call Reports.

Wildfire’s board of directors has retained D. Hilton Associates to assist in a national search for a new CEO.

Wildfire’s 195 employees operate three branches.