Deseret First Names Vernon CEO As London Retires
By CU Today Staff —
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah—Deseret First Credit Union has named Annalesa Vernon president and CEO, effective Jan. 4, 2027, succeeding Shane London, who is retiring after 46 years with the credit union, including 14 years as its chief executive.
London notified the board in March of his plans to retire, prompting a search that considered internal and external candidates. During his tenure as CEO, Deseret First grew from $420 million to more than $1.3 billion in assets and expanded to more than 88,000 members, 230 employees and 13 branches.
"Shane took the helm of a $420 million credit union and is handing over one that serves more than 88,000 members and holds $1.3 billion in assets. But the number that matters most to this Board isn't on the balance sheet — it's the seven straight years of strong member satisfaction scores. That is hard to do, and it is the standard he set. In Annalesa, we found a leader who understands both our members' why and the modern tools it takes to show them how," said Kathleen Fueston, chair of the Deseret First board.
London, who became the fourth chief executive in the credit union’s history in 2012, also oversaw a multiyear branch-modernization program, established the Deseret First Charitable Foundation and helped the credit union earn repeated national and regional workplace recognition.
Originally reported by CU Today.