“His humility, servant leadership approach and genuine care for people align strongly with the culture we are building.” That’s how Ning Duong, President and CEO of Financial Center First Credit Union, described the credit union’s newest executive. It’s an interesting thing to lead with when announcing a technology hire.
The executive in question is Brent Gifford, who has joined Financial Center First as Chief Information Officer (CIO). He arrives with 30 years of technology leadership behind him, nearly all of it in the credit union world. Most recently, he served as CIO at P1FCU in Idaho.
A career built around credit unions
Gifford’s background covers information technology, information systems and information security. A consistent thread runs through it: making sure technology lines up with an organization’s strategy, and that it supports day-to-day operations and growth rather than just sitting in the server room.
The credentials back that up. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Management, with a minor in Business Management, from Brigham Young University. His master’s degree in Information Systems, with an emphasis in Information Security, comes from George Mason University. He’s also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and earned his Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation through the CUES CEO Institute.
Why the hire matters
Duong framed the move as part of a bigger picture. “As Financial Center continues to grow and evolve, technology will play an increasingly important role in how we serve our members, support our employees, and position the credit union for the future,” she said. Experience got Gifford in the door, but she noted that how he leads mattered just as much.
Gifford sounds ready to build rather than rebuild. “There is a strong foundation in place, and I look forward to building on it,” he said, adding that he wants to make sure the technology strategy keeps supporting the credit union’s goals and future growth. He also praised the organization’s commitment to its members, employees and communities.
What he’ll be running
The CIO role is a broad one. Gifford will lead Financial Center First’s technology strategy and oversee:
- Information technology
- Information systems
- Information security
- Digital capabilities
- Project management
- Process improvement
- Payments
That’s a lot of ground, and Financial Center First has put a veteran in charge of all of it.