Callahan & Associates has named Omaha businessman SeanHession as the new president/CEO of the analytical services anddata provider to the credit union industry and said it is“transitioning ownership of the company to its managementteam.”

Hession served 10 years in series of staff and operational rolesat First National Bank of Omaha, Callahan said Monday in astatement, and co-founded a healthcare transaction processing firmthat grew from a startup to a $40 million corporation in fiveyears.

Hession, who has more than 30 years of general managementexperience, also was responsible for the strategic planning anddaily operations of a vendor that served credit unions andcommunity banks, Callahan said.

The executive team also includes Jay Johnson, executive vice president; Alix Patterson, chief operating officer; Jon Jeffreys, vice president of financial services, andScott Patterson, vice president of new business innovation, thecompany said.

“As the recession's impact recedes, now is the time to investfor a more cooperative future,” Hession said. “The board … seniormanagement … the entire Callahan team … we are all excited aboutthe opportunities 2012 will bring for credit unions andCallahan.”

Hession fills the CEO role formerly held by Chip Filson, who the company said will concentrate oncooperative initiatives and advocating for the credit unionsystem.

“Sustaining the innovative ingenuity of the credit union systemis essential to enhance the well-being of its member-owners,”Filson said. “That effort is never-ending.”

The statement also said that Callahan's Board of Directors “willenhance its strategic direction and oversight of the firm's manyofferings.”

Members include Ron Daly, president of DigitalMailer in Herndon, Va.; Doug Fecher, CEO of the $2.2 billion Wright-Patt Credit Unionin Fairborn, Ohio; Randy Karnes, CEO of CU*Answers in Grand Rapids, Mich., andretired business executive Bob Minor.