Canada’s Vancity names Wellington Holbrook as president and CEO
Canadian credit union Vancity has appointed Wellington Holbrook as its new president and CEO, effective 15 January 2024.
Wellington Holbrook, Vancity’s new president and CEO
Holbrook will take over from Nez Aquino, who has served as interim CEO since July 2023 following the departure of the company’s former CEO and president Christine Bergeron in April.
Following Holbrook’s appointment, Aquino will remain with Vancity as chief risk officer and CEO of Vancity Community Investment Bank.
With a three-decade-long career, Holbrook was previously CEO of Alberta-based Connect First Credit Union, where he also served as chief operating officer from 2020 to 2022. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade at ATB Financial in senior leadership roles, ultimately being appointed as the company’s chief transformation and technology officer.
Earlier in his career, he spent 15 years at the Business Development Bank of Canada, where he helped lead and shape the bank’s business across Western Canada in several leadership positions.
Commenting on his appointment, Holbrook says: “I’ve dedicated my working life to cooperatives and banking institutions with missions that extend beyond profits.”
In a LinkedIn post discussing the move, he adds: “I believe banking done well creates opportunity and contributes to a better world for everyone.
“And I’ve always admired how Vancity has charted its own course to build a clean and fair world. From financial literacy programs, to innovative financing for women and Black entrepreneurs, to a strong commitment to reconciliation to incorporating meaningful goals to achieve net zero sooner, Vancity walks the talk.”
As Canada’s largest credit union, Vancity claims to serve more than 560,000 member-owners and their communities across 50+ branches, boasting around $25 billion (CAD 34 billion) in assets.
