MADISON, Wis. – CUNA CU President/CEO Mary Cunningham will be stepping down to become president/CEO of the $425 million USA FCU FCU in San Diego. USA FCU Board Chairman Lew Witherspoon said Cunningham will join the CU on September 17. "We're certainly looking forward to her arrival. We know she's going to be great. We had several high quality candidates. She has a wealth of experience as a credit union CEO," said Witherspoon. Witherspoon said USA FCU went through a three-month executive search. Earlier this year, the CU community was saddened when former USA FCU CEO Marty Cassell was killed after being hit by a car walking on a sidewalk near the CU on his way to lunch. USA FCU appointed vice president of operations Janet Walters as interim president/CEO for a short time and then brought in former Hughes Aircraft Employees FCU (now Kinecta FCU) President/CEO Bill Broxterman as interim president /CEO. Kim Sponem, chief operating officer and executive vice president with CUNA CU, will serve as interim president/CEO of the $215 million CUNA CU. "I'm absolutely thrilled," said Cunningham, who has been president/CEO of CUNA CU since 1995. "I'm very excited about the new opportunity for growth, and the challenge. I really look forward to being in California with the friends I've made over the years," said Cunningham. Cunningham is a member of the National Credit Union Foundation Board of Directors, and a member of the CUES Board. She is also a member of the Filene Research Council and has served on a number of CUNA committees. USA FCU was chartered to serve the military (originally called San Diego Navy FCU), but today has over 1,000 SEGs. Witherspoon said Cunningham's national profile was not a factor in her selection, and that other candidates had high profiles, including serving on boards of national CU trade associations. [email protected]