WATERFORD, Conn.— The $1.6-billion Charter Oak FCU has named Craig Knell president and CEO.
He will succeed Brian Orenstein, who is retiring following 21 years of exceptional service and leadership, the CU announced.
With over a decade of experience in banking, financial management, and regulatory oversight, Knell brings a combination of strategic vision, operational insight, and a people-centric leadership philosophy to the role, Charter Oak said.
“A U.S. Navy veteran, Craig Knell has built a career defined by integrity, service, and results. Prior to this appointment, he served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Nutmeg State FCU in Rocky Hill, Conn., where he played a pivotal role in driving membership growth, improving financial performance, and spearheading technology and efficiency initiatives across the organization,” the CU explained.
In his earlier career, Knell worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, where he led comprehensive risk and governance reviews for financial institutions with assets ranging from $300 million to over $20 billion.
“Craig’s deep understanding of financial institutions, combined with his commitment to servant leadership and innovation, makes him the ideal person to guide our organization into its next chapter,” said Guy Henry, Charter Oak board chairman. “We are confident that his vision and integrity will further strengthen our mission and advance the value we deliver to our members, our employees and our community.”