July 31, 2007

CALGARY – David Phillips, president and chief executive of Credit Union Central of Canada, and Alban d’Amours, president and chief executive of Desjardins, discussed the Canadian credit union system during a luncheon session at the 2007 World Credit Union Conference on Tuesday.

Before an audience of almost 2,000 delegates the two CEOs discussed the common challenges their systems face and the many ways that they are working together.

D’Amours said it is essential that the two systems work together and co-operate to meet global competition.

“Our ambition is to develop and reinforce the co-operative movement in Canada and we can only do it with the co-operation of credit unions,” he said.

Phillips noted that Alphonse Desjardins founded the Quebec system and also started the federal civil service credit union that is now part of Alterna Savings.

“We are not two solitudes,” he said. “We have frequent interaction with Desjardins.”

Earlier, keynote speaker Michael Treacy, author of Double Digit Growth: How Companies Achieve It No Matter What, told delegates that the key to consistent, strong growth is developing a discipline that makes creating growth opportunities an integral part of a company’s operations.

Companies need to focus on learning, innovation and adaptation and develop a system that links these elements.