CUNA Mutual Appoints James Zilinski to Board

MADISON, Wis. – James Zilinski is the newest addition to CUNA Mutual Group’s board of directors, effective July 1. Zilinski is retired chairman, president and CEO of Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America. He replaces Thomas Jones, who left the CUNA Mutual’s board in December 2005. The board is in the process of selecting an individual with credit union system background to replace Tom Graham, who also departed in December. Graham is the former president/CEO of Kinecta FCU, who less than a year ago was named president/CEO of SunCorp. Berkshire Life Insurance Co. is a subsidiary of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, of New York City. Guardian Life, which merged with Berkshire Life, in 2001, is the fourth largest mutual insurance company in America with about $25 billion in assets. Other members of CUNA Mutual’s board include Loretta M. Burd, chairman, CEO, Centra Credit Union, Columbus, Ind.; Eldon R. Arnold, vice chairman, retired president/CEO, CEFCU, Peoria, IL; Jeff Post, president/CEO, CUNA Mutual Group; James L. Bryan, retired president/CEO of Texans Credit Union, Dallas; Joseph J. Gasper, CLU, retired president/COO, Nationwide Insurance, Dublin, Ohio; Victoria W. Miller, executive vice president/CFO, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Atlanta; Neil A. Springer, managing director, Springer & Associates, Wheaton, lll.; William B. Eckhardt, president/CEO, Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Anchorage; Bert Hash, president/CEO, Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore, Inc.; Alan Peppers, president/CEO, Westerra Credit Union, Denver; Farouk D.G. Wang, director, buildings & grounds management, University of Hawaii, Honolulu; and Larry T. Wilson, president/CEO, Coastal Federal Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C.