Gary Swindler will take over as CEO of Washington State Employees Credit Union on October 1, the credit union announced Tuesday.
He succeeds Kevin Foster-Keddie, who led the Olympia, Wash.-based institution for 20 years and will retire in 2020 following a transition period.
Swindler has spent 30 years with the credit union, starting out soon after college as a loan officer and working his way up to SVP and chief operating officer. As the CU noted in a press release, this is the last promotion open to him.
“I’m humbled and honored by the board’s confidence in me,” Swindler said in the release. “They set the vision for our commitment to supporting members. I get to work with our amazing staff to bring that vision to life and keep evolving to deliver what members need from us.
Doug Mah, chairman of WSECU’s board, called Swindler “the right person to lead the credit union in our next chapter.”
“His experience of coming up through the organization gives him a perspective and background that’s unmatchable. The board was impressed by his dedication to member service, his empathy and compassion for our employees, and his leadership around innovation and change, which is critical in today’s landscape,” said Mah.
Under Foster-Keddie’s leadership, the credit union expanded its membership eligibility to the entire state of Washington, growing from $668 million in assets in 1999 to more than $3 billion today.
