The latest from John Pembroke

Nov 21, 2016 - by John Pembroke, CUES

CUES members: We’re grateful for you

It seems fitting that two of the top five hits on a recent web search for “grateful for our members” were links to credit unions thanking their members and their ...

Oct 18, 2016 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Examine your fears to help you focus

With Halloween coming up, it’s a great time to ask yourself, “What am I most afraid of when it comes to my credit union and the industry as a ...

Sep 21, 2016 - by John Pembroke, CUES

3 steps to supporting a bright future for credit unions

For seven years running, the CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec challenge has been making a positive difference in the professional lives of the young credit union professionals (non-CEOs, age ...

Aug 18, 2016 - by John Pembroke, CUES

5 ways to apply what you learn

At the recent August session of CEO Institute II, part of the networking buzz was about “how do we take this great information home most effectively?” One participant was planning ...

Jul 27, 2016 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Working out and getting outside can aid learning

At CUES we have great staff members with a variety of learning styles. For example, we have people who like visuals, people who appreciate perspectives from outside the industry to ...

Jun 21, 2016 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Summer school is a valuable leadership tool

When the academic year ends, most kids don’t want to be sent off to summer school. As CEO of CUES, however, I have a completely different perspective on the ...

May 20, 2016 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Position the building blocks of talent management for solid ROI

Think about how you manage big expenses at your credit union. When you build a new branch, for example, you don’t just open it and let it sit there. ...

Apr 19, 2016 - by John Pembroke, CUES

What counts in leadership

When I think about what counts in leadership, I often reflect on the early years of my career when I worked at Procter & Gamble. When P&G has a product ...

John Pembroke

CUES

Web: www.cues.org

As president/CEO of CUES, John Pembroke came full circle in his career. His first exposure to business was a high school internship working in his father’s church credit union. He developed a deep connection to the impact credit unions make on their members’ lives. That experience and being raised by parents with advanced degrees taught him to value education, faith, relationships, and personal growth.

These values, combined with a progressive mindset, a desire to innovate, and an entrepreneurial spirit, were central to John’s success, allowing him to build a unique brand. Known for driving organizational growth and profitability, he leveraged his diverse business skills, relationship-building expertise, and leadership ability at PSCU, Cox Enterprises, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, and Procter & Gamble.

Under John’s leadership, CUES membership tripled, member loyalty increased, new and innovative talent development offerings were developed and launched, and the financial condition of the organization was improved. Also, CUES came to be viewed as an industry thought leader in talent development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In addition, he worked with his board to evolve its governance efforts and make DEI a priority throughout the entire organization.

One of John’s favorite quotes is by Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “Change is the only constant in life.” He lived by this maxim, consistently embracing opportunities to improve himself, his life, and the lives of others. For more than 25 years, he led companies with the same enthusiasm and was a trailblazer in the financial services, technology, consumer products, media, and non-profit industries.

John held a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. in Marketing and Policy Studies from the Booth School of Business of the University of Chicago.

Whether watching sports, traveling, spending time with friends and family or enjoying listening to new music—which was something he did every Friday—John considered having fun vital to a full life. He will be missed.