ACE is happy to announce that we have now recruited Carmel Swan as our new CEO to replace Bill Hudson who served as CEO for more than 9 years.

Talking about her new role with ACE Carmel said:

“As the new Chief Executive Officer of ACE Credit Union Services, I am deeply honoured and excited to lead this esteemed organisation into a new era of growth and community impact. My appointment marks a commitment to not only continue our tradition of empowering communities and promoting financial inclusivity but also to amplify these efforts in innovative and transformative ways.”

“In my role as CEO, my primary goal will be to further the mission of ACE Credit Union Services by championing financial inclusivity and supporting the economic empowerment of underserved communities. My focus is on innovative thinking, a steadfast commitment to social justice, and a passionate pursuit of change. I am dedicated to ensuring that our strategies and services not only respond to the immediate financial needs of our members but also contribute to their long-term financial security and well-being.”

Outgoing CEO Bill Hudson said:

“When you retire from working with a Company like ACE it is important to ensure that the organisation that you are retiring from is left in good hands. Having worked as the leader of ACE since 2014, I feel that ACE will now move forwards as an approachable and highly valued credit union trade body. In recruiting Carmel I feel that the ACE Board has taken its Succession Planning commitment seriously and that we

have a CEO with the skills and experience necessary to take ACE forward and develop the services provided to ACE members.”

Making sense of the Regulatory requirements for credit unions regardless of scale https://youtu.be/FMt50BJ1HHs

ACE CEO Bill Hudson has announced that after 9 years of working for ACE Credit Union Services he will be retiring following his 70th birthday in August 2023. Having worked for the credit union sector since 1990, Bill feels that now is the right time for him to pass on the responsibility of running the 24-year-old credit union trade association.

Bill said “When I first started working for ACE in 2014, the Board were uncertain as to whether or not they could afford to pay a full-time CEO. I had worked closely we with previous CEO, Barbara Hann who had not received a salary. I knew at the time that ACE had been set up as an alternative type of trade body that put its members at the top of the tree regardless of size and that’s what appealed to me”

Although he will no longer be the ACE CEO in September 2023, Bill has agreed to remain on the ACE Board of Directors as a volunteer. He said: “The last 9 years have been very enjoyable and I will leave with many happy memories of working with ACE members and ACE directors who have always been very supportive of me. I will continue to follow the future of ACE and support its development.” The CEO role has been advertised on LinkedIn and already attracted a lot of interest. If you are an ACE CU Services member and interested in applying for the role, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to discuss further.

If you would like to apply for the CEO's job please send your CV to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Job interviews will take place in Manchester on the 13th July 2023.

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The recent GDPR webinar attracted a record number of 40 delegates from 10 ACE credit unions. The webinar was delivered by Mandy Bygrave, Operations 
Manager at Coventry & Warwickshire Co-operative development Agency. The webinar can be accessed by linking to https://youtu.be/4zVF9GVeRBY