A message from Celina:
Thank you to everyone who joined the September 23 All Employee Call. I know the updates shared during our time together were significant, and I want to take a moment to reflect and reinforce what they mean for us as a team.
Honouring leadership and transitions
As we continue shaping the future of our new credit union, I want to acknowledge the leadership of Doug Jones and Trevor Beaton. Recently, Doug and Trevor shared important updates with their respective teams.
Doug is planning to retire effective December 31 of this year. Doug wants everyone to know that his decision comes after lots of helpful dialogue with his wife Debbie, his team, and me over the past couple of months. I want to congratulate Doug on a successful 37-year career. He has been and will continue to be an important resource for me and the new Conexus executive team over the next few months.
Trevor will be concluding his time with Synergy on December 31, 2025. This decision was not made lightly—it comes from a place of deep respect for the future we are building together. He is deeply proud of the work accomplished with the Synergy team and remains fully committed to supporting a smooth and successful transition with the Conexus team in the months ahead.
Their contributions have been instrumental in our merger journey, and I’m deeply grateful for their partnership and dedication. They will remain in their roles through the end of the year to support a smooth transition.
Thank you, Doug and Trevor!
Internal Audit: decision to move in-house
A key decision shared during the call was the transition of our Internal Audit function in-house.
This means the CUs inSync model — a collaborative effort between Conexus, Cornerstone, and Innovation — will dissolve. This change reflects the growing complexity of our new credit union and the need for a tailored approach. The transition from the current model to the new in-house model will be facilitated by Nicole Wiebe, VP Internal Audit for CUs inSync and the yet to be finalized VP, Internal Audit role for the new Conexus Credit Union. Most importantly, all CUs inSync employees will remain with their home credit unions.
Announcing our new executive team
The future executive structure is informed by the current Conexus model, which was refreshed three years ago based on research and third-party expert guidance. I also explored variations that not only reflect the evolving needs of the organization but also support what may be required for a successful merger. This approach supports our current direction and aligns with the partner credit unions’ shared commitment to exceptional member service delivery.
I’m pleased to share the executive team that will lead the new Conexus Credit Union:
This team was selected through a thoughtful and equitable process, and the candidate pool was very strong. These decisions were not easy, and I approached them with great care and consideration. I want to thank everyone who expressed interest. Your passion and commitment to our future are deeply appreciated.
What’s next
With our executive team in place, our next priority is forming the merger integration team. This team will guide our transition and help us bring forward the best of Conexus, Cornerstone, and Synergy. We’ll take the time needed to build this team with care and intention, ensuring it supports both our people and our members.
A final thought
I recognize that these announcements may land differently for each of you. It’s ok if not everyone agrees. What matters most is how we support one another through this change. Please continue to give each other space and grace — and above all, continue to treat each other with respect and care. Change is never easy, but it is necessary as we move forward in building something new together.
I want to reinforce what we have been working so hard to get to this past year. Together we are preparing to build a new provincial credit union with $15 billion in assets under management that serves 200,000 members through 57 branches across 50 communities uniting 1,400 employees. This is what we are doing, collectively together!
I’m looking forward to the exciting journey ahead and the next steps forward with all of you. We want to acknowledge and respect our past, as we continue to honour the commitments we’ve made to our members, and work together to support a thriving Saskatchewan.
Celina