TwinStar Credit Union has announced the appointment of David Tuyo as its next CEO, succeeding long-time CEO Jeff Kennedy, who is set to retire after nearly 40 years of service.
“The Board of Directors is thrilled to announce David Tuyo as TwinStar’s next CEO,” Board Chair Thomas Pettus-Czar said. “Our goal throughout this process was to identify a visionary and dynamic leader aligned with our mission and values. We’re confident that David is that leader and look forward to the pivotal role he will play in advancing and supporting the mission of our credit union.”
Tuyo brings 25 years of financial services experience to the Lacey, Wash.-based TwinStar ($4.2 billion in assets, 261,393 members), having served as president/CEO of University Credit Union (UCU) in Los Angeles since 2017. Under his leadership, the institution more than doubled its assets and membership, significantly expanding its footprint.
“I can’t wait to join the dedicated team at TwinStar and continue building on Jeff’s impressive legacy of service,” Tuyo said. “As CEO, I’m committed to providing innovative products and services to help our members and communities feel financially secure and empowered to reach their dreams.”
Tuyo will officially assume his role on May 1, 2025, working alongside Kennedy to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Kennedy expressed pride in the institution’s progress, stating, “Leading this remarkable institution has been an honor and privilege. I am immensely proud of the progress we have made, and I am confident that the credit union is well-positioned for continued success. As I pass on the torch to David, I’m looking forward to watching our credit union thrive and achieve even greater success in the years to come.”
The TwinStar Board of Directors extended its appreciation for Kennedy’s leadership, with Pettus-Czar noting, “He has led our credit union with compassion and built a strong foundation for the future.”
According to a statement from UCU, the Board of Directors has appointed Estela Nagahashi as interim CEO.
“It has been an honor to work alongside David, and we are grateful for his leadership in positioning UCU for continued success,” Nagahashi said. “I am excited to lead UCU during this transition, working closely with our exceptional leadership team to build upon our momentum and serve our members with excellence.”
Tuyo's selection followed an extensive search facilitated by executive search and leadership development firm DDJ Myers.
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Michael Ogden
Editor-in-Chief at CU Times. To connect, email at [email protected]. As Editor-in-Chief of CU Times since 2016, Michael Ogden has led the editorial team in all aspects of content strategy and execution, including the creation of the publication’s exclusive and proprietary research database of the credit union industry’s economic landscape. Under Michael’s leadership, CU Times has successfully shifted to an all-digital editorial product with new focuses on the payments, fraud, lending and regulatory beats. Most recently, he introduced a data-focused editorial product for subscribers that breaks down credit union issues into hard data, allowing for a deeper and more factual narrative for readers. In 2024, he launched the "Shared Accounts With CU Times" podcast, which offers a fresh, inside-the-newsroom perspective through interviews with leaders from the credit union industry and the regulatory world. He dives into pressing credit union issues, while revealing the personalities working behind-the-scenes to push the credit union world forward. His background includes years as a radio and TV anchor/reporter and a public relations and digital/social media manager, where he covered the food and music industries, as well as cooperatives and credit unions. Over the years, he has launched numerous exclusive video and podcast series, including a successful series of interactive backstage interviews with musicians at music festivals, showcasing his social media and live streaming production skills.
