Brian Caldarelli addressing the audience during VeleraLIVE, April 14, 2026.
Incoming Velera President/CEO Brian Caldarelli said the company's next chapter will center on speed, innovation and deeper collaboration with credit unions as it builds out a modern payments ecosystem.
Speaking with CU Times following his on-stage introduction at VeleraLIVE last week, Caldarelli described the leadership transition as a "core memory" moment, underscoring the scale and emotion of the event attended by more than 2,000 industry participants.
Looking ahead to his Oct. 1 start date, Caldarelli said the company is focused on developing a strategic roadmap while continuing to invest heavily in technology. He emphasized Velera's approach of integrating fintech capabilities through APIs to accelerate innovation for credit unions, rather than attempting to compete directly with large banks on spending.
Artificial intelligence will also play a key role, though Caldarelli noted the focus will be on practical use cases that enhance operations, not replace workers.
"We're building towards a payments ecosystem … to provide the right tools for our clients," he said.
Caldarelli added Velera will remain closely aligned with credit union advocacy efforts, reinforcing its role as a partner to the industry during a period of rapid technological change.
Watch the full interview with Caldarelli and CU Times below.
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