Kathleen C. Orovitz officially assumes duties as President / CEO at Navigant Credit Union
SMITHFIELD, RI (November 3, 2022) — Kathleen C. Orovitz has officially assumed the role as Navigant Credit Union’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
Navigant Credit Union’s Board of Directors unanimously selected Orovitz in August as the successor to former President/CEO Gary E. Furtado, who announced his plans to retire in early May. Furtado’s last day at Navigant Credit Union was Monday, October 31, marking the conclusion of his 44-year career at the credit union.
“Kathy’s extensive knowledge and proven experience at every level of the financial sector make her an invaluable asset to her colleagues and Navigant Credit Union’s members alike,” said Ann M. Kashmanian, chair, Navigant Credit Union Board of Directors. “The Board and the internal staff at Navigant Credit Union have full confidence in this new era of leadership, and look forward to continued success.”
“I am a firm believer in Navigant Credit Union’s mission, and I am truly honored to serve in this new role for a business with such a rich history here in Rhode Island,” said Orovitz. “I am devoted to continuing to build on the community-driven, people-first values that have made Navigant Credit Union the state’s best place to work, and have led to sustained, long-term success for the individuals, families and businesses we serve.”
Orovitz enters her tenure as President/CEO with more than 30 years of diverse experience in the financial services industry specializing in retail banking delivery, sales management, corporate marketing and strategic planning. She joined Navigant Credit Union in 2009 as the credit union’s Executive Vice President & Chief Retail Banking Officer and a crucial member of Navigant Credit Union’s senior leadership and strategic planning teams. Prior to Navigant Credit Union, Orovitz served as the Director of Retail Banking at Bank Rhode Island, and Vice President of Retail Sales & Compensation at Santander.
In her role as Chief Retail Banking Officer, Orovitz has led the credit union’s sales, marketing and business development efforts, and oversight over the retail delivery channels including the branch network, contact center, digital banking, training and investment services. She led the organization’s expansion from nine physical branch locations in Rhode Island to its current number of 23. As the credit union rapidly grew, Orovitz spearheaded an organizational change to a more regional approach, leading the process of hiring and training a team of regional managers to oversee day-to-day retail operations across the credit union.
Kathy was also instrumental in the development and delivery of several innovative projects at Navigant, such as the Credit Union’s revamped digital banking capabilities, and its expanded NCU Wealth Management programs, which focus on providing members with greater access to real-time information on their finances and detailed financial planning needs .
Outside of her role at Navigant Credit Union, Orovitz serves as a Board Member and Chair of the Finance Committee for Connecting Children for Families (CCF), a Woonsocket-based nonprofit organization that helps provide families and individuals struggling with homelessness or domestic abuse with monetary donations, clothing, food, furniture, and other needs. Orovitz helped lead CCF’s capital campaign that allowed the organization to purchase the Hope Street school building, reduce overhead costs, and allow CCF to continue to operate and provide critical services to the community. Orovitz also serves as a Board Member for the New England Automated Clearing House, and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Simon W. Wardwell Foundation.
Kathy earned her B.A. in Business Administration from Bryant University.
She lives in North Smithfield with her husband Dan and daughter Alexandra.
About Navigant Credit Union
Based in Smithfield, R.I., Navigant Credit Union is the longest-operating member-owned credit union in Rhode Island. Since its founding in 1915, Navigant Credit Union has been dedicated to providing its members with unparalleled financial products and services while working every day to improve the financial well-being of the families, businesses, and communities it serves across Rhode Island. With more than $3.7 billion in assets, more than 150,000 members and 26 physical branch locations, Navigant Credit Union is the oldest and largest credit union in Rhode Island and among the state’s strongest and most trusted financial institutions.
Earning a five-star rating, Navigant Credit Union was listed as one of America’s best regional banks and credit unions by Newsweek in 2024. It is consistently ranked as one of Rhode Island’s Best Place to Work by Providence Business News and was rated the state’s top credit union and mortgage lender in 2022 and 2023 by the Providence Journal Readers’ Choice Awards.
Navigant Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA.
Visit www.navigantcu.org to learn more.
