Head of Vancity to step down, lead Vancouver Airport Authority

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Tamara Vrooman is stepping down as president and CEO of Vancity — Canada’s largest credit union — to take on the same role with the Vancouver Airport Authority.

She will be the first woman to lead YVR, taking over after June 30.

Vrooman will continue to lead Vancity until that date, says a release from the company.

In the coming weeks, Vancity’s board of directors will name an interim president and CEO, who will take over as of July 1.

Vrooman joined Vancity as president and CEO in September 2007.

“For nearly 13 years, Tamara has guided Vancity through a period of incredible growth and change, resulting in an influential community-based institution that is a model for social and environmental innovation, especially in the financial sector,” says Vancity board chair Jan O’Brien.

The head of Canada's largest credit union is leaving. Tamara Vrooman is stepping down after 13 years as CEO of Vancity to become CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority. pic.twitter.com/Q7WX3gbQNL

— Richard Dettman (@rwdettman) May 13, 2020

“Tamara leaves our credit union with a very strong leadership team and culture that will serve our community for years to come. As Vancity enters a new
era, we look forward to welcoming a new leader who will build on this foundation of success and momentum.”

During Vrooman’s tenure, the credit union doubled its total assets, and those under administration to $28.2 billion.

It also became the first Canadian financial institution to join the United Nations’ Collective Commitment to Climate Action, and a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking.

Vancity, with Vrooman, was the first Canadian financial institution to be invited to join the Global Alliance for Banking on Values — a network of the world’s leading sustainable banks sharing a commitment to achieving triple bottom line impact through responsible banking practices.

Meanwhile, cutbacks began at Vancouver International Airport earlier this week as passenger volumes are expected to drop by as much as two-thirds over the next three years.

The Vancouver Airport Authority issued layoff notices to more than 100 employees Monday, a move first announced at the end of last month.

Vancouver airport anticipates passenger volumes, with travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19, at the airport over the coming three years to drop from 26 million a year down to between eight and 15 million annually.