Filene Research Institute Appoints Stephen Arnold as Chief Strategy & Enterprise Development Officer

As CSEDO, Arnold will drive organizational alignment and lead growth initiatives to advance Filene’s impact.

Madison, Wis. – Filene Research Institute, a leading innovator in the credit union industry, is proud to announce the appointment of Stephen Arnold as Chief Strategy & Enterprise Development Officer, effective October 20, 2025. In this executive leadership role, Arnold will be responsible for translating enterprise priorities into action, stewarding growth of Filene’s Advisory Services, and advancing Filene’s data and digital strategy to enhance impact, reach, and relevance.

Arnold brings leadership experience spanning financial services, insurance, and technology. He is a proven strategist and growth leader recognized for forging strong partnerships, developing talent, and aligning business execution with organizational priorities.

Most recently, Arnold led 2901 Consulting Group, a firm he founded to help credit union organizations accelerate strategic growth and program execution. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Partner Management at TruStage (formerly CUNA Mutual Group), where he oversaw strategic partnerships focused on providing financial services to consumers and credit union members. His earlier career includes leadership roles at Liberty Mutual, Huron Consulting Group, and Epic Systems, where he consistently delivered measurable results through data-driven decision making, operational excellence, and empowered teams.

“We are thrilled to welcome Stephen to Filene’s Executive Leadership Team. His strategic vision, proven record of execution, and deep understanding of the credit union system make him the ideal leader to advance our priorities and expand our impact,” said Mark Meyer, President & CEO of Filene.

Arnold holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is also a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) and has served on multiple public and community boards, including the Wisconsin Employee Trust Fund Board and Madison College’s Business Management Advisory Board.

“I’m honored to join Filene at such a pivotal time for the credit union movement,” said Arnold. “Filene’s commitment to driving innovation and turning insight into action deeply resonates with me. I look forward to collaborating with our members and partners to accelerate growth, strengthen strategic alignment, and expand Filene’s impact across cooperative finance.”

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About Filene: Filene Research Institute strengthens organizations through innovative research and incubation to improve consumer financial well-being. As an independent cooperative finance think tank, Filene’s membership network connects a community of leaders and bright minds to change lives through innovation, truth and cooperation. In addition to delivering cutting-edge, actionable academic research, Filene also provides incubators to test and scale solutions, events to spark organizations into action and advisory services to help accelerate and implement innovation. For more information, visit filene.org and @fileneresearch.