Meridian is pleased to announce that Suanne Nielsen was elected by the Board of Directors as Meridian’s new Board Chair. Nielsen was first elected to the Meridian Board of Directors in 2021 and has since served on the Audit and Finance Committee, Human Resources Committee, Nominating Committee, and as Chair of the Governance Committee in 2023 and 2024. Prior to her retirement in 2019, Nielsen was a senior executive with Foresters Financial. She has previously served as a Director of the Daily Food Bank and America Fraternal Alliance; and as Board Chair of the Hamilton-Burlington United Way. She is past President and Board Chair of the Strategic Capability Network, a not-for-profit association that brings thought leadership and a community of peers to Canadian senior Human Resources professionals and executives.
Karen Farbridge, who has served as Chair since 2018, will continue as a Director on the Meridian Board.
“I am honoured to become the Chair of the Meridian Credit Union Board of Directors. I would like to thank Karen Farbridge for her leadership over the past 6 years and Jay-Ann Gilfoy and the executive team for their ongoing dedication and commitment to Meridian. I am also pleased to welcome Philip Armstrong and Betsey Chung as newly elected Directors to the Board. Together, they bring deep expertise in information and digital technology, marketing, innovation and strategy,” said Suanne Nielsen.
“I wish to extend my sincere thank you to the Board and management for their support during my tenure as Chair, and I congratulate Suanne on her election as Chair,” said Karen Farbridge. “Suanne is a collaborative leader and seasoned financial services executive who will lead the board well.”
Meridian’s Annual General Meeting was held on April 18, 2024 at which time the results of the Director election were announced. There were four positions to be filled on the Board in 2024. The successful candidates recommended by the Board’s Nominating Committee were elected by the members to their positions, including Philip Armstrong, Betsey Chung, Karen Farbridge, and Suanne Nielsen.
Departing Directors Ian Cunningham and Bruce West were thanked for their dedication and service to the Board.
About Meridian
Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union, and one of the largest in Canada. Guided by our purpose, “helping you achieve your best life,” Meridian delivers personal, and wealth financial business solutions to over 380,000 Members. Our bold Meridian for Good strategy is aimed at helping people get access to the money and advice they need; plan for a better future that is clean, resilient, and diverse; and be financially confident. Meridian has two operating subsidiaries: Meridian OneCap Credit Corp (“MOCC”) and motusbank. For more information, please visit: meridiancu.ca.
We acknowledge the land on which we operate is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
For more information contact:
Erick Bauer, Meridian
Erick.Bauer@meridiancu.ca; 416-587-4185