WASHINGTON-Big changes are taking place at CUNA and NCUA. Knowledgeable sources have confirmed that CUNA Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs John McKechnie will be moving to NCUA as director of congressional and government affairs. NCUA has announced that current Director of Congressional and Governmental Affairs Cliff Northup will be leaving the agency. Northup, a CUNA lobbyist many years ago, told Credit Union Times that he does not have anything lined up at the moment. McKechnie had accepted the post previously from former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar but changed his mind after CUNA offered him a promotion. Additionally, CUNA Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Senior Legislative Counsel Gary Kohn, a long-time Democratic lobbyist for CUNA, is expected to become NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland's executive assistant. He attended the November NCUA Board meeting. Hyland formerly served concurrently as a vice president for CUNA and executive director of the Association of Corporate Credit Unions. NCUA and CUNA declined to comment. CUNA has been a fertile ground for NCUA staffers, including most recently former CUNA Vice President Steve Bosack, who served as former NCUA Board Member Debbie Matz' executive assistant. Bosack is now deputy director with the National Credit Union Foundation -

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