Knight to take NASCUS reins; succeeds Ito at start of new year

(Dec. 23, 2021) Brian Knight is the next president and CEO of NASCUS, the association announced this week, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Lucy Ito, who retires as of Dec. 31, after leading the association since 2014.

 A 23-year staff member of the association, Knight’s most recent position is executive vice president and general counsel, a position he held since 2014. In 2007, he was named the association’s first internal general counsel; he joined the association in 1998 as director of regulatory affairs.

“NASCUS is a unique and vitally important thread in the fabric of the credit union system and the broader financial services sector,” Knight said. “I am honored and humbled to accept this position and build on the achievements of Lucy and those leaders that have come before me.”

Knight (right) said NASCUS helps to ensure that the credit union system is positioned to meet the challenges of the moment and of the future by supporting state regulatory agencies and working with dedicated credit union professionals to facilitate the cooperation and consultation essential for dynamic and viable credit union system.

“I know firsthand the commitment of our staff and members to our mission. I want to thank the NASCUS Regulator Board of Directors and Credit Union Advisory Council for this opportunity,” he added.

NASCUS Regulator Board of Directors Chair Rose Conner (who is administrator of the North Carolina Credit Union Division) said Knight is uniquely qualified to lead the organization. “The depth and breadth of his knowledge about the state and federal credit union systems, and his keen sense of emerging issues in the consumer financial services marketplace, has well-prepared him for this new role,” she said.

NASCUS Credit Union Advisory Council Chair Mike Williams (CEO of Colorado Credit Union in Denver) echoed Conner’s view. “I am confident that Brian’s leadership and vision are the combination we need to continue the organization’s success into 2022 and beyond,” he said.

Both Conner and Williams expressed their thanks to Ito for her leadership over the past seven years and wished her the best in her retirement.

Knight holds a B.A in history and political science from Hope College in Holland, Mich., and a J.D. from the Marshall Wythe School of Law of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.

LINK:

NASCUS press release: Brian Knight Selected as NASCUS President and CEO