After 23 years, Fred Johnson, president and CEO of the Credit Union Executives Society will retire effective Dec. 31, 2012.
In a letter to members, Johnson stated that his target age for retirement had always been when he reached 70 years old.
“After I retired from the Army following 37 years as an enlisted man, cadet and officer, I never imagined I would find a career at CUES that would be filled with as much satisfaction and emotional highs,” Johnson said. “I am proud beyond words at what we have been able to accomplish since I came to CUES in 1989. As the credit union system has grown and prospered over the years, CUES has been growing and prospering right there with it. Our membership numbers have doubled and our revenues have tripled. And, in accomplishing this, we have remained true to our mission to educate and develop credit union CEOs, directors and future leaders.”
Prior to joining CUES, Johnson spent nearly four decades in the U.S. Army, including time on the faculty at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He served as a director of West Point Federal Credit Union for six years. He also commanded Infantry and Ranger units in Vietnam and was decorated for heroism and wounds received in action.
Since joining CUES, the many accomplishments achieved under his leadership have ranged from the development of the CEO Institute and Directors Leadership Institutes, to teaming up with Currency Marketing to find the Next Top Credit Union Executive and partnering with BoardSource and Rotman to launch the Center for Credit Union Board Excellence, which was designed to help ensure high performing credit union boards. Another highlight that stood out for Johnson was receiving the World Council of Credit Unions’ Distinguished Service Award.
