First West Credit Union Monday announced that Shelley Besse has been named president of its Envision Financial division.
Based in Langley, First West is British Columbia’s third-largest credit union with $6.2 billion in assets under administration. It operates 37 branches throughout the province under the Envision Financial and Valley First brands.
Since joining the credit union as a service representative in 1984, Besse has held a number of increasingly senior positions within the organization including her most recent role as First West’s senior vice-president of operations, sales and member experience.
In 2009, Besse was appointed to lead First West through its transition efforts, successfully bringing its two regional brands, Envision Financial and Valley First, together under the First West family and evolving the organization’s new operating model.
“I am thrilled that Shelley has accepted the role of president in our Envision Financial division,” says First West CEO Launi Skinner. “Shelley is a life-long Lower Mainland resident who understands the unique needs of our local communities. She has also worked in almost every area of our organization, enabling her to bring a deep understanding of our business and our priorities to her new role.”
In 2009, Besse was appointed to lead First West through its transition efforts, successfully bringing its two regional brands, Envision Financial and Valley First, together under the First West family and evolving the organization’s new operating model.
Besse credits three key learnings that have led to her success:
Among her many credentials, Besse holds an MBA from Royal Roads University, a certificate in financial planning, and she is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program, specializing in strategy and organizational design. Most recently she received an Operational Risk Management professional designation from the International Council for Operational Risk Management, and she currently serves as a director for the Surrey Board of Trade.