Succession planning

Melissa Ashley, who has been with the corporate since 1999, has been tapped to succeed retiring CEO Lee Butke.

Doug Bass had been one of the South Dakota company's regional presidents. He succeeded Ken Karels, who remains chairman and CEO.

Seven Seventeen selects new officers to lead the way at their branches, and more new hires, promotions and special recognition at CUs across the country.

The company said that Michael Segner had also succeeded Stephen Mourlam as its president.

Richard Murray IV was named chairman, succeeding John Holcomb III. Murray replaced Holcomb as CEO last year.

Jeanne Walker will leave Houston-based Southern Federal Credit Union later this year, with Credit Union Resources leading the search for a successor at the $93 million-asset institution.

Two credit unions both tapped new senior vice presidents of member experience and more new hires, promotions and appointments.

Cooperative Credit Union Association President and CEO Paul Gentile is set to take over at Merck Employees FCU later this fall.

Bringing in new talent and/or promoting from within can bolster a credit union's performance.

As director of the Fed's Division of Research and Statistics, David Wilcox is responsible for briefing the Federal Open Market Committee on the outlook for the national economy.