WASHINGTON–CUNA has named Douglas Kiker as its new Chief Strategic Communications Officer, effective July 10.
Kiker will report directly to President and CEO Jim Nussle and will lead all of the association’s external and internal communications functions. He will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies that increase awareness of and support for credit unions and CUNA’s advocacy objectives, the trade group said.
“Douglas’ skills as a bold leader and strategist, and his deep understanding of the modern communications landscape will move our association forward,” said Nussle. “I’m honored that he has accepted my invitation to join CUNA and lead our efforts to raise awareness of the credit union difference, helping us deliver even greater value to our membership.”
For the last eight years Kiker has worked for Kekst and Co., a New York-based strategic corporate communications firm where he served clients in a wide range of diverse situations including communications during complex legislative and regulatory challenges, crisis management, media and investor relations and stakeholder communications during transactions, bankruptcies and restructurings, and other situations.
In addition, he led Kekst’s media and presentation training practice group, and served as a managing director and a member of the firm’s executive committee. Prior to joining Kekst, Kiker worked for a decade as a journalist for “60 Minutes,” CBS News’ political unit, and in the Washington bureaus of the Associated Press and Fox News.
Kiker holds a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Virginia and a master of science in journalism from the Medill School at Northwestern University.