Jeff Post, who has led CUNAMutual Group as president/CEO of the company since 2005, announcedNov. 8 that he will retire at the end of the year.

Robert N. “Bob” Trunzo was named by CUNA Mutual's board of directors to succeedPost effective Jan. 1, 2014, according to the Madison,Wis.-based company.

Since joining CUNA Mutual in June of 2005, Trunzo has held anumber of senior leadership positions, most recently as presidentof CUNA Mutual Group Insurance and Financial Services. He becomesthe eighth president in the company's 78-year history.

“I'm honored and humbled to lead CUNA Mutual Group. We havesolid business strategies in motion and the company is wellpositioned to continue the strong momentum we have in ourmarketplace,” Trunzo told Credit Union Times.

In his role as president of CUNA Mutual Group Insurance and Financial Services, Trunzo wasresponsible for the products, distribution and service of thecompany's U.S. credit union businesses as well as its 401(k)business, the company said. Trunzo was also responsible for nearly3,000 of the company's 4,500 employees and approximately $2 billionof CUNA Mutual's annual revenues.

With Trunzo taking the helm in January, one of the company'spriorities is to build on its financial strength so that CUNAMutual can deliver on promises to credit unions long into thefuture, he said. For instance, the company said it has madesignificant investments in a number of its product lines includingTruStage lending products, retirement plan services and CUNA Brokerage Services Inc.

“These are core business areas for us—and are a significant partof our long-term strategy,” Trunzo said. “We will also continue delivering the credit union protection products that are vital to the creditunion movement.”

Regarding making any adjustments within CUNA Mutual's currentmanagement team, Trunzo said one of his priorities is to keeppositive momentum in the marketplace.

“We currently have excellent managers who have deliveredconsistent results,” Trunzo pointed out. “Although we continuallylook for ways to improve our organization, I have a great deal ofconfidence in my team.”

Trunzo also said he does not have any plans to consolidateoperations within the company, but added he would take a seriouslook at such opportunities that would benefit the firm'scustomers.

Next Page: Facing Same Challenges CUNA Mutual faces many of the same challenges ascredit unions do, Trunzo said.

“The financial services landscape is changing and changing fast.That means we have to continually anticipate where the market isheaded and plan appropriately,” Trunzo explained. “We are in astrong financial position and have sound business strategies inplace that make me feel confident about our ability to succeedlong-term.”

Trunzo gives strong credit to Post for leaving CUNA Mutual in asolid position, leading a multi-year transformation plan thatrepositioned the organization for success in the credit unionmarketplace and beyond. The plan included reinvention of the firm'ssales distribution model and its customer service, product andinvestment strategies.

“I'm very comfortable with the decision,” Post said of hispending retirement. “In my nine years, our people have cometogether and accomplished so many great things. Bob's ready tocarry the vision forward.”

Post said his retirement was simply the right time for him andhis wife, Lisa. Post will be assisting CUNA Mutual's board andTrunzo to assure a smooth transition through July 2014, accordingto Eldon Arnold, CUNA Mutual board

chairman. After then, Post said he's looking forward to somemuch-deserved leisure time. While there are many positives aboutbeing the president of an insurance company, Post said having personal time isn't one ofthem.

“I'm going to take it easy for a while; I have some cars thatneed attention,” he said. “My schedule has been rigorous, to saythe least. I'm looking forward to coming up for air, but I'll missthe committed people of our company who every day step up and makea difference for our customers. I'll also miss the credit unionpeople, many of whom have become good friends to me and Lisa.”

“The time's right for the company, too. Under Bob'scapable leadership, CUNA Mutual Group will maintain its customerfocus, continued growth and positive momentum,” Post said. “Thecompany has a bright future, and I'm honored to have been a part ofhelping make that happen.” Indeed, Post said CUNA Mutual took itsfinancials to new heights by growing the company 44% while breakingdown barriers to sharpen customer service and diversifying itsbusiness in a way that has benefited credit unions.

“I'd like to think we did business the right way. Weidentified—and we now live by—core corporate values to guide how weoperate,” he said. “We made hard decisions in many areas, includingour product portfolio. But in the end, I believe the company,credit unions and our employees are better off for it.”

After a thorough succession planning process and extensiveconsideration, CUNA Mutual's board of directors said Trunzo was theright candidate to carry on the company's “rich tradition andexecute our future strategy,” Arnold said.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Trunzo was once Secretary ofCommerce under former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson. He is a memberof the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, andserves on the American Council of Life Insurers' CEO SteeringCommittee on Retirement and Financial Security.

He also served as chairman of the Southeast WisconsinProfessional Baseball Park board of directors, which oversaw thedesign, financing and construction of Miller Park, home of theMilwaukee Brewers.

Trunzo received his bachelor's degree in political science fromthe University of Kentucky and his law degree from MarquetteUniversity. He also completed the Kellogg School ofManagement Executive Program at Northwestern University in2011.