Bethpage Credit Union CEO Kordeleski resigns for health reasons

Kirk Kordeleski has resigned for health reasons as president and chief executive of Bethpage Federal Credit Union, the state's largest in assets.

The credit union's chief operating officer, Wayne Grossé, was named interim chief executive. An announcement from Bethpage Wednesday evening said Grossé has been with the credit union for 15 years and has served as chief operating officer for the past seven. Bethpage didn't disclose details about Kordeleski's health.

Kordeleski, 57, of Sea Cliff, joined Bethpage in 1992 as executive vice president of operations and became president and chief executive in 2000.

He has been a high-profile figure in the Long Island business community. In 2012 he became chairman of the Long Island Association, the region's major trade group, after being vice chairman for several years.

A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Kordeleski is an alumnus of George Mason University, in Fairfax, holding a bachelor of science degree in accounting and information systems.

Bethpage's board of directors, which accepted Kordeleski's resignation and named Grossé as temporary replacement, said in a statement, "The appointment provides continuity of leadership and reinforces our commitment to the financial strength, integrity and reliability of Bethpage Federal Credit Union." The credit union's announcement included no comment from Kordeleski.

Kordeleski has overseen the growth of Bethpage to $5.7 billion in assets. Bethpage has 232,000 members, making it the state's second largest credit union by that measure, after Long Island-based Teachers Federal Credit Union, which has 239,993. Like other credit unions, Bethpage has attempted to capitalize on widespread negative attitudes about banks in the wake of the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008.

LIA president Kevin Law said he expected Kordeleski would resign as chairman of the business group. Law called Kordeleski "one of the most philanthropic CEOs on Long Island," and said Bethpage has a strong management team.

Grossé, 56, of Bayport, serves on the Farmingdale State College Foundation. His LinkedIn profile says he holds a master's degree in business administration from Dowling College in Oakdale.

W. Hubert Keen, president of Farmingdale State College, said last night that Grossé "has been an actively participating member" of the foundation. "He knows how to approach the big issues and to make progress on those as he works with a wide range of people."

Bethpage was founded in 1941 as a credit union for Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. employees, but it has been available to almost all Long Islanders since 2003. It has 28 branches and 60 shared service center locations on Long Island.

With James T. Madore