After leading Affinity Federal Credit Union for more than 27 years as president and CEO, John Fenton will hand over the reins to Kevin Brauer, effective Jan. 1, 2023. 

Brauer, who is the current chief administrative and financial officer, will oversee the credit union’s 500-person team at its Basking Ridge headquarters and across its more than 20 branch locations.  

The company said Fenton – who told NJBIZ back in 2018 that Affinity has “a formal succession-planning strategy” – will remain in a transitional role for a few months and retain responsibilities with the Affinity Foundation. 

“Kevin is a long-tenured, well-respected and highly regarded member of the Affinity leadership team,” Richard Meene, chairman of the board, said in a statement.  

Meene added that Brauer has been “instrumental in developing the philosophy, services and impact that will continue to fuel our organization.” 

Brauer, who joined Affinity more than seven years ago, brings over three decades of financial services industry experience to the role. During his time with Affinity, he has led the administration, human resources, finance, payment solutions, data, digital technology, consumer and commercial lending, enterprise risk management and operational risk groups.  

Prior to joining Affinity, he held leadership positions with VSoft Corp., Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union and Empire Corporate Federal Credit Union. 

A Certified Public Accountant, Brauer earned an MBA from Marist College and a bachelor’s in business administration from Niagara University. 

Affinity, which is the largest credit union headquartered in the state, serves individuals and businesses with lending options, credit counseling and debt support, credit card offerings, investing and insurance solutions.