The Cornerstone Credit Union League, which serves CUs in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, has announced Caroline Willard will take over as CEO in April, succeeding longtime leader Dick Ensweiler, who is retiring after more than 50 years in the credit union movement.
Willard joins the league having spent a decade with CO-OP Financial Services, where she is currently EVP of markets and strategy.
"Having spent the last 10 years at the nation's largest CUSO, it is an honor to be given the opportunity to serve credit unions at one of the largest leagues in the country," Willard said in a statement. "This role will give me a chance to tap into what I have learned at both CO-OP Financial Services and at American First Credit Union, where I served on the executive team for five years. I am excited to work with Cornerstone's board and management team to aggressively advocate on behalf of credit unions and to find innovative ways to improve service delivery as we navigate a changing environment for advocacy and collaboration."
Willard will have some big shoes to fill. Ensweiler has been with the league for more than 20 years and was instrumental in consolidating three separate leagues into a combined league in 2013, along with serving in various regional and national capacities in the CU system throughout his career.
"We are thrilled with the association and business prospects for Cornerstone and Credit Union Resources under Caroline's leadership," Cornerstone Board Chairman Kenny Harrington said in a statement. "Cornerstone is one of the strongest leagues in the country, and we believe Caroline's leadership, background, expertise, and vision for the future will provide Cornerstone member credit unions with even more value and enriched products and services for their membership."
Todd Clark, President and CEO of CO-OP, praised Willard and commended her on her accomplishments while at the CUSO.
"We are very happy for Caroline as she embarks on this new phase in her career and extremely grateful for her leadership and the accomplishments she made during her tenure at CO-OP," he said. "The great benefit for us is that we will continue collaborating with Caroline in her new role. CO-OP has always had a very strong relationship with Cornerstone CUL. Their service organization, Credit Union Resources, Inc., has partnered with us on CO-OP Shared Branching and for other CO-OP products and services to their credit unions. We look forward to continuing our work with Cornerstone CUL under Caroline's leadership."
In a statement from the Credit Union National Association, CUNA President and CEO Jim Nussle praised both Willard and Ensweiler for the work they have both done to move the industry forward.
"Caroline’s deep experience in the credit union industry has perfectly prepared her for this vital role," Nussle said of Willard. "All of us at CUNA look forward to working closely with Caroline as we work relentlessly together on behalf of America’s credit unions through the unmatched power of the CUNA/League system.
“Dick Ensweiler has been as important to the success of credit unions over the last five decades as anyone," added Nussle. "His leadership and vision have helped bring the credit union movement to the position of strength where we find ourselves today.”
