ABCUL names new Chief Executive

THE Association of British Credit Unions has announced the appointment of Mark Lyonette ? currently ABCUL&#039s Operations Manager ? as Chief Executive from July 1st.
He succeeds former Labour/Co-op MEP Shaun Spiers, who is leaving to take over as chief officer of the Campaign for Rural England.
Mr Lyonette, who has been employed by ABCUL since 1997 and has been Operations Manager since 2000, has played a key role in the Association&#039s development into a full service trade association for British credit unions. Prior to this he spent 15 years in a variety of training and management roles in the voluntary and community sector.
For the past two years he has led the ABCUL Banking Services Project, which is working with banks and technology providers to explore how credit unions can offer a wider range of services.
Mr Lyonette told the News: "I am delighted to be taking on the job and look forward to the further expansion of credit unions in Britain.
"There are many people who would benefit from credit union services who are at the moment unable to access them and the Association has a lot more work to do to ensure that credit union services are accessible and attractive to larger numbers of people."
He added: "We will work with regional and national government to secure support for credit unions at all levels, and continue to press for a fair and proportionate regulatory regime for the movement."
ABCUL President Mary Henderson commented: "Mark has been a great asset to ABCUL for the past seven years. With his ideas and energy I&#039m sure that the movement and the Association can look forward to a continuing period of growth and innovation, expanding on the successes enjoyed by his predecessor."
Outgoing CEO Shaun Spiers said: "Having worked closely with Mark for the past four and a half years, I have no doubt of his abilities and am very pleased to be leaving ABCUL in such safe hands. I look forward to seeing the Association and the credit union movement continue to flourish in the coming years."