John Deese has retired as president and CEO of Guardians Credit Union in West Palm Beach, Florida, effective Dec. 31.
Deese began working for the $303.3 million-asset organization in 1978 at age 19 when he was hired as the credit union's manager. He was named Guardians' president and CEO while he was in college, Guardians said in a press release Wednesday.
Thomas Shea, Guardians Credit Union's former Chairman, quoted author John C. Maxwell who said, "when people respect you as a person, they admire you. When they respect you as a friend, they love you. When they respect you as a leader, they follow you."
"John's success as CEO of Guardians Credit Union was built on this philosophy," Shea said in the press release.
Guardians Credit Union is now searching for Deese's replacement. The credit union said it is seeking candidates with president and CEO experience managing a $100 million-asset credit union, or executive-level experience at a $250 million-asset credit union or larger.
Guardians earned $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2022, a 38% decrease compared with a year earlier, according to call report data from the National Credit Union Administration.
