Warren Butler, president/CEO at Georgia UnitedCredit Union is the latest longtime leader retiring thisyear.

After some 29 years, Butler has announced he will retireeffective December 31, 2012. Executive Vice President Douglas B.Foote has been tapped to succeed Butler as president/CEO of theDuluth, Ga.-based credit union.

Since he joined the credit union in 1983, Georgia United hasgrown from $25 million in assets one office location, and 17,000members to over $900 million in assets, 16 branch locations, and115,000 members. Butler has also been active in the credit unioncommunity serving on numerous boards including serving as chairmanof the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates board and as chairman of theCredit Union Foundation.

Foote has more than 20 years experience in thefinancial services industry and joined Georgia United as seniorvice president/chief operating officer in April 2003 after servingEXCEL Federal Credit Union as its executive vice president. Over the years his responsibilities have grown from overseeinglending programs and the branch network, developing an e-branchcall center to creating a business lending program and overseeingbranch operations, lending, operations, business development andmarketing. He also led the credit union through two successfulmergers with University of Georgia Employees Credit Union and StateEmployees Credit Union respectively.

To ensure a successful executive transition, Georgia United'sBoard of Directors has had a succession plan in place for sometime.