ARLINGTON, Va. — Lucy Ito will become the new president and CEO of the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors when Mary Martha Fortney retires from the post later this year.
Ito has decades of experience in the credit union community, on both the international and state league level. She served as senior vice president of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU).
During her 15 years at WOCCU, Ito worked on technical programs and legislative and regulatory issues primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Asia, and the Pacific.
In May 2004, Ito moved to the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. She served in a number of capacities for the CCUL/NCUL, including her most recent position as the Leagues' executive vice president & chief operations officer. She provided oversight to all four of the Leagues' divisions: Advocacy, Member Solutions, Strategic Innovation & Planning, and Finance & Human Resources.
"I am honored and thrilled to have this opportunity to work with the Board and Advisory Council of NASCUS because I believe the state-chartered credit union system offers the greatest opportunity to advance the personal finance interests of American consumers by assuring not only the safety and soundness of credit unions but also the future viability of the credit union business model," Ito said in a statement.
Diana Dykstra, president and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, told Credit Union Journal, "This is a fabulous opportunity for Lucy and for all state-chartered credit unions throughout the United States."
"She takes her unique qualifications - including her 10 years of working with the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues - to NASCUS, and we know she will use her superb talent and expertise to make a positive change," Dykstra said.
Looking Forward, Looking Back
Stephen S. Pleger, chairman of the NASCUS board and senior deputy commissioner, Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, looked forward and backward as Fortney's replacement was named.
"The Board and Advisory Council deeply appreciate Mary Martha's enthusiastic service to NASCUS and wish her the very best in retirement," Pleger said. "She has been a great friend and resource to all NASCUS members, both credit unions and regulators alike. At the same time, we look forward with great anticipation to a new era for NASCUS under Lucy's dynamic and innovative leadership."
Ito's current credit union system board and committee service includes: CCUL/NCUL Regulatory Advocacy Committee; CCUL State Charter Review Committee; Vice Chairman of the Consumer Protection Sub-Committee of CUNA Governmental Affairs Committee; CU Partner Link Strategy Team; WOCCU's Worldwide Foundation Advisory Committee; CALCenter Credit Union Board of Directors; CU SacTown 10-Mile Run Committee; and Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction Committee.
She earned a B.A. in Economics and Asian Studies from the University of California-Berkeley and an M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her post-graduate work includes research as a Regents' Fellow at the University of California-Santa Cruz and she is a graduate of the CUES Advanced Leadership Institute at Harvard Business School.
Fortney said: "I want to extend my congratulations to Lucy upon her selection by the NASCUS board to be the next NASCUS CEO and will be pleased to work with her to ensure the transition is seamless. NASCUS has been an important part of my life, and I look forward to its continuing growth and achievements in the future."
