Gulf Winds Credit Union in Florida names new CEO

Gulf Winds Credit Union in Pensacola, Florida, hired Daniel Souers as its next president and CEO, effective Oct. 1. He will succeed Chris Rutledge, who is retiring after 20 years as the leader of the $1 billion-asset organization. 

Souers was most recently the chief experience officer for $1.4 billion-asset First Service Credit Union in Houston.

Daniel Souers has been named the new CEO of Gulf Winds Credit Union in Florida.

"Not only does Daniel embody our values and fit our culture, but he also brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Gulf Winds," Chairman R.L. "Ozzie" Oswald said in a press release Wednesday. 

 Souers began his career as a market research consultant and later managed marketing for one of the largest credit unions in Alabama. In 2016, he moved to First Service Credit Union and was named the chief experience officer in 2020.

During Souers' time at First Service, the credit union more than doubled in size through organic growth and one of the largest credit union mergers to take place in Houston. 

"Gulf Winds has a rich history of serving members and I look forward to building upon Chris' legacy and the foundation set by the board and the entire team. Under my leadership, we will focus on improving the financial lives of our members, providing innovative products and services and positively impacting the communities we serve," Souers said in the press release.

Gulf Winds earned $4.7 million in the first six months of 2022, a 16% increase from a year earlier, according to call report data from the National Credit Union Administration.

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