Karen Freeman is promoted to Chief Operations Officer and Ryan Platt is promoted to Chief Information Officer at Leaders Credit Union.

Leaders Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative based in Jackson, Tenn., is pleased to introduce Karen Freeman as Chief Operations Officer and Ryan Platt as Chief Information Officer. Freeman, formally Vice President of Community Engagement for Leaders, will oversee all branch and e-branch operations, which includes eight retail facilities and the member contact center. Platt, new to Leaders, will oversee the data processing departments and be responsible for both cybersecurity and technology security for the credit union. Both roles will collaborate with the CEO, board of directors, and other executives to strategically move the credit union forward.

“Karen and Ryan are both excellent additions to our C-suite, and we are thrilled they are bringing their talents and expertise to our executive team,” President and CEO of Leaders Credit Union Todd Swims said. “Karen brings extensive experience in the banking industry and an innovative outlook from her recent role of taking the credit union to the community that our team will benefit from greatly. Platt brings a wealth of knowledge about information technology that will help our credit union move forward both analytically and digitally.”

As the Chief Operations Officer, Freeman will be responsible for all member-facing operations. She will work with the organization’s products, services, and staff to enhance and grow technology, engagement, and service levels. Freeman champions Leaders’ mission and vision and will manage the human resources and training departments. This ensures a positive experience for all staff and members as the credit union grows both internally and externally.

Freeman has over 17 years of combined financial services experience, specifically in the areas of bank marketing and business development. Freeman is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. Freeman began her financial marketing career in Nashville with a uniquely designed state-wide bank. Since that time, Karen has had the opportunity to work with banks ranging in size from start-up financial institutions to nearly two-billion-dollar assets. Freeman has been a part of the Leaders team since 2017, where she has harnessed and grown our community engagement relations and team both externally and internally.

Freeman contributed to the Sheshunoff Consulting + Solutions BankersWeb speaker series, speaking on various banking topics, which led to a collaboration with two other speakers to develop and administer an electronic banking certification program. Over the last six years, Karen has led and facilitated live sessions for Sheshunoff’s Consulting + Solutions annual Technology & Operations Officers Affiliations Program.

Freeman is active in the community and American Heart Association where has served as Heart Walk Chair and currently serves on the Go Red Executive Leadership Team, chairing the Circle of Red in 2020-2021. Freeman is in her third year as Treasurer of the Old Hickory Rotary Club. As a 2016 Leadership Jackson graduate, she has served on the Leadership University Board and is actively serving on the Leadership Jackson University Board. Freeman was recognized as a member of Jackson’s Finest in 2015, was honored with the Sterling Award in 2018, and was chosen as a Credit Union Rock Star in 2020 by Credit Union Magazine. Freeman is a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Alamo First Christian Church. She, her husband, Ryan, and two children reside in Alamo, Tenn.

Ryan Platt is an accomplished strategic leader, experienced in harnessing the power of technology to increase profitability and competitiveness. Platt has over 15 years of experience in information technology with large companies in the southeast. Platt earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and went on to graduate with an M.B.A. at Arkansas State University. Most recently, Platt has held the position of CIO at EnSafe Inc. located in Memphis, Tenn., since 2015. At EnSafe, Inc., Platt developed a long-term strategic vision for digital transformation and continuous improvement that employs the power of technology to increase profitability and agility. Platt also successfully integrated three acquired companies, harmonizing resources to optimize spend, and improve productivity.

Platt is an active member and deacon at Bellevue Baptist Church, where he, his wife Kendra, and two children attend. Platt resides in Memphis with his family.

Additional members of the Leaders executive team include: Todd Swims, Chief Executive Officer; Spencer Pratt, Executive Vice President; Seth Rudd, Chief Finance Officer; and Leigh Anne Bentley, Chief Marketing Officer. For more information about Leaders Credit Union, visit their website at leaderscu.com.

About Leaders Credit Union

Leaders Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Jackson, Tenn. Leaders was established in 1957 by five Jackson educators and has grown to over 55,000 members and eight branches across West Tenn. As one of the largest and most stable credit unions in the nation, Leaders exists to serve the needs of its members and lead the way on their behalf. Leaders was awarded the 2018-19 Best Place to Bank and Best Mortgage Service by Jackson Sun’s Readers’ Choice Award and the 2018-20 Best Place to Bank by the Bartlett Express. Leaders is an Equal Housing Lender and is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information about Leaders Credit Union, visit their website.