Michael Atkinson
Senior Vice President, Strategy @Beem Credit Union
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Vice President, Strategy @Beem Credit Union
BC, CA
Gulf & Fraser and Interior Savings merged to become Beem Credit Union on January 1, 2024. After successfully leading the merger effort for Gulf & Fraser, I continued in my role as SVP Strategy for the second-largest provincially regulated credit union in British Columbia.I am responsible for leading the Strategy and Research Office, which oversees the development and execution of the corporate strategy. In this role, I collaborate with the executive team and Board to future-proof the organization, identify opportunities, define the external environment, emerging requirements, organizational interdependencies, and risks from an enterprise-wide perspective. I work across the organization to ensure alignment with the brand promise, vision, and strategy. In 2024, I successfully led the merger between BlueShore Financial and Beem Credit Union. This work included conducting due diligence, developing a business case, applying to the regulator, obtaining approval from regulatory bodies, and securing a successful vote by the membership.
EDUCATION
University of London
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Economic Policy
Simon Fraser University
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Major: Economics Minor: Business Adminstration
University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management
Executive Program, CUES Governance Leadership Institute
Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna
Co-operative Economics Program
Simon Fraser University
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Strategic Planning
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Associate Certficate, Financial Management Financial Planning
SKILLS
ABOUT MICHAEL ATKINSON
Senior strategy executive with 30+ years of leadership experience in financial services, specializing in corporate strategy, M&A, transformation, and building people- and digital-first organizations.I currently serve as Senior Vice President, Strategy at Beem Credit Union, where I lead enterprise strategy, research, and future-state planning for one of British Columbia’s largest credit unions. I have successfully led two major credit union mergers, including the largest merger of two credit unions in Canadian history in 2023 and the 2024 merger of BlueShore Financial and Beem.My career has spanned retail banking, wealth management, digital transformation, and strategic planning. I have led large IIROC, MFDA, and insurance operations, retail networks, and wealth divisions—delivering growth, improving performance, and strengthening member experience.A committed lifelong learner, I hold an MSc in Economic Policy, an MBA in Strategic Planning, and multiple industry designations including CFP, FMA, and Responsible Investment Specialist. I’m also a dedicated educator, teaching economics at BCIT for more than 15 years.I’m passionate about:• Turning strategy into execution• Enabling high-performing teams• Financial well-being and literacy• Creating strong and sustainable credit union systemsMy work has been recognized nationally, including the Canadian Credit Union Young Leaders Award, and contributions to research through the Filene Research Institute.
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