Jerry Benton Will Retire as CAMPUS USA CEO
The veteran executive will step down at the end of 2026, with current COO Jeff Thieman set to succeed him.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in People
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Jerry Benton will retire as the CEO of Gainesville-based CAMPUS USA Credit Union at the end of 2026. Current Chief Operating Officer Jeff Thieman will assume the role of CEO on January 1, 2027.
Why it matters
Benton is concluding a 27-year tenure at the credit union, during which he oversaw significant growth in both assets and membership reach across Florida. The leadership transition marks a strategic shift for the institution as it looks toward its next phase of service.
Benton has accumulated over 40 years of industry experience, overseeing an expansion of the credit union's service field from 12 to 25 counties. Assets under his leadership grew from $1.2 billion to more than $4 billion.
The players
Jerry Benton
He is the long-serving president and CEO of CAMPUS USA Credit Union who oversaw the institution's growth for over two decades.
Jeff Thieman
He currently serves as the chief operating officer and is the incoming CEO scheduled to take over the credit union in 2027.
CAMPUS USA Credit Union
This is a financial institution headquartered in Gainesville that serves members across 25 Florida counties.
The details
Since joining in 1999, Benton has guided the credit union through periods of intense expansion by adding service centers and investing heavily in new technology. The board of directors selected Thieman, who has served as the chief operating officer since 2014, to ensure continuity during the transition.
Timeline
Benton joined the credit union in 1999.
Benton became CEO and Thieman became COO in 2014.
Benton will retire at the end of 2026.
Jeff Thieman will become CEO on January 1, 2027.
Market Landscape
This succession plan follows the industry trend identified in the 2024 CUNA report, which highlights the increase in internal promotions to CEO roles among mid-sized credit unions. The appointment of the current COO to replace the outgoing CEO follows the industry pattern of prioritizing internal talent for leadership continuity.
Members should not expect immediate changes to retail services or operational procedures as the credit union transitions to new leadership. Standard service center availability and existing financial products will remain consistent through the planned 2027 transition.
The takeaway
Maintaining internal leadership stability is a common strategy for credit unions aiming to preserve long-term institutional culture during executive transitions. Members and stakeholders can generally expect a continuation of current service standards as the new CEO moves into the role.
Further reading
For more information on organizational leadership shifts, see the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CUToday.
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