RiverLand Federal Credit Union has announced that George Lunsford will serve as their next president and chief executive officer (CEO) following the retirement of the cooperative’s first President/CEO, Carol Irby, who has led the cooperative since 1985. Lunsford was placed by DDJ Myers, the well-known leadership development firm that recently became an ALM First Company. Lunsford has served as RFCU’s Vice President of Information Technology for more than 13 years, working closely with Irby. The official transition is planned for January 1, 2023.
Reflecting on her time as CEO, Irby shares insights on the past and excitement for the future. “My 37-year journey with RFCU has been an incredible one – I’m proud of our growth and accomplishments and humbled to work with such a talented team. RFCU’s focus is always on our members and that will never change. George’s proven leadership will make the transition seamless as he has experience collaborating with every department, understands the importance of embracing technology, and embodies our values of putting members first,” says Irby.
“I am honored to be selected as the next CEO of RiverLand FCU. It’s been a pleasure to lead the digital evolution of the credit union, helping to launch the first mobile app as well as digitize many of our other services and processes,” says Lunsford. “Carol Irby has been a fantastic boss and mentor. I look forward to ‘taking the baton’ and collaborating with the Board to guide the credit union into the future, continuing our mission to serve our membership. It's truly wonderful to work for an organization that puts people first – both members and employees - and exists for people, not profit."
Lunsford is a native New Orleanian and received both his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and his master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. In his spare time, George supports local cat rescue efforts and enjoys traveling and skiing with his spouse.