Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union selects Larissa Thurston as Chief Executive Officer
LOWELL, MA (July 1, 2024) — Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union (JDCU) has selected Larissa Thurston as its new Chief Executive Officer. She will succeed the current CEO, Mark Cochran, after his planned retirement at the end of the summer. Thurston was placed by DDJ Myers, the well-known leadership development firm that offers a broad range of solutions to help clients optimize their greatest assets – their people.
“We are delighted to announce that Larissa Thurston will join JDCU as our next President and CEO,” says Naomi Prendergast, Board Chair. “Larissa’s extensive experience as both a credit union CEO and CFO, coupled with the talents of our existing executive team, will continue and expand upon JDCU’s standing as a mission-focused community financial partner. Our Board is incredibly grateful to Mark Cochran, our outgoing President and CEO for the past 17 years, and we wish him all the best upon his retirement.”
Thurston brings more than 24 years of financial services experience to her new role and a proven track record of delivering results, driving innovation, and managing risks. Most recently, she served as President/CEO of St. Mary’s Credit Union in Marlborough, MA. She’s also held various other executive level positions at both St. Mary’s CU and the Bank of New England, where she served as Vice President & Controller.
Originally from JDCU’s service area, Thurston is looking forward to continuing the credit union’s tradition of active community involvement while reconnecting with her local roots. “I’m honored to carry Mark’s philanthropic work forward and continue building upon JDCU’s ‘Heart to Serve’ mission with the support of our experienced executive leadership team and dedicated employees,” says Thurston. “Together, I know we will find new and innovative ways to positively impact our community, further strengthen our cooperative, and help even more members make smart financial choices.”
As a passionate community volunteer, Thurston currently serves as Chairperson of the Board for both the Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest and the United Way of Tri-County. She is on the board of the Marlborough Economic Development Committee, and she served on the board of the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce, in addition she served as a Volunteer Income Tax Preparer and a Student Mentor through Read to a Child, a national literacy and mentoring nonprofit. Thurston also dedicated her time as a committee member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Member Advisory Panel and a member of the Bolton Economic Development Committee.
Thurston earned her Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Finance, minor IT/CIS from Southern New Hampshire University. She has continued her professional education by receiving an Executive Leadership Certificate through Wharton Executive Education, graduating from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking and completing the ABA’s Financial Managers School.
Larissa Thurston is the new Chief Executive Officer at Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union.
About DDJ Myers
DDJ Myers specializes in leadership success through executive recruitment, strategic organization, and board development for financial institutions. In addition, they offer a broad range of online assessments to help companies optimize their greatest assets – their people. DDJ Myers joined forces with ALM First, a strategic partner that offers depositories an array of financial advisory services, in 2022 to provide expanded educational opportunities and solutions to help clients optimize both people and financial performance. Learn more at www.ddjmyers.com or visit our parent company www.almfirst.com.
About Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union
Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union was established in 1912 and is a full-service, community-based financial cooperative. Locally owned by 101,000 members with $2.1 billion in assets, Jeanne D’Arc operates eight full-service branches in Lowell, Dracut (2), Tyngsboro, Chelmsford, Methuen, and Westford, Massachusetts, and Nashua, New Hampshire; high-school branches at Lowell High, Dracut High, and Nashua High School South; a loan center in Lowell; and a mortgage center in Chelmsford. Follow Jeanne D’Arc on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
