Controversy behind it, Lower East Side People's FCU names new CEO

Maureen Genna has been named the next president and CEO of Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union, succeeding retiring CEO Linda Levy.

Levy made a name for herself in late 2017 when her credit union sued the Trump administration over Mick Mulvaney’s appointment as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That suit was ultimately thrown out, but it put Levy at odds with many in the industry. She retired in April of 2018, but the board was unable to find a successor before that time, so she stayed on. Levy previously told CU Journal she did not believe the suit against Trump affected the search for new leadership.

A veteran of more than 30 years in the credit union space, Genna has held a variety of different positions, including serving as chief lending officer at $310 million-asset Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union of Oceanside, Long Island; and as CEO of the 1199 SEIU Federal Credit Union, a $70 million-asset institution based in New York City.

“We are thrilled to welcome Maureen, who brings tremendous experience and a strong commitment to our mission,” Deyanira Del Rio, LES Peoples FCU’s board chair, said in a statement.

Genna holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Barnard College of Columbia University and an MBA in Management from the Leonard Stern School of Business at New York University.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to join the team at Lower East Side Peoples Federal Credit Union,” Genna said.

Levy will continue to consult and support Genna during the transition process, according to a notice on the CU’s website.

The credit union posted net income of $123,625 in 2018, a 22 percent decline from the prior year.