{{Short description|Canadian businessman}} {{resume-like|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Launi Skinner | image = | image_size = 200px | caption = | birth_date = August 20, 1964 | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = | occupation = CEO, community leader | spouse = | known_for = CEO, First West Credit Union; former president, U.S. Starbucks | website = [http://www.firstwestcu.ca/launi-skinner] }}
'''Launi Skinner''' (born 1964) is a Canadian business woman, with several decades of experience leading high-profile companies within Canada and internationally, including Starbucks US, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, and First West Credit Union. Skinner is currently chief executive officer of First West Credit Union, one of Canada's largest credit unions.
Skinner joined First West Credit Union in 2010, four months after the January 1, 2010, merger of Valley First Credit Union and Envision Credit Union.<ref>{{cite web |title=You are being redirected... |url=http://firstwestcu.ca/content/current-releases#March_29_2010 |website=firstwestcu.ca}}</ref> Under Skinner's leadership in 2013, First West Credit Union successfully acquired Enderby & District Credit Union. Then, under Skinner's leadership in 2015, Vancouver Island-based Island Savings Credit Union merged with First West Credit Union.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timescolonist.com/business/island-savings-merger-with-langley-credit-union-approved-1.1587260|title=Island Savings merger with Langley credit union approved|last=Duffy|first=Andrew|work=Times Colonist|access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref>
==Career==
Before joining First West Credit Union, Skinner served as chief operating officer of 1-800 GOT JUNK? and as president of Starbucks US. However, during her first year at First West, Skinner grew the credit union's net interest income by 37.3% to $129.0 million. Skinner's leadership between 2010 and 2016 saw First West introducing more than 20 new products and services, donating more than $2.2 million to charitable community causes, increasing total assets to $8.7 billion and adding more than 35,000 net new members,<ref>{{cite web |title=You are being redirected... |url=http://annualreport.firstwestcu.ca |website=www.firstwestcu.ca}}</ref> the latter a particularly noteworthy accomplishment in light of the flat membership growth trends facing Canada's credit union industry at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thefinancialbrand.com/30004/credit-union-growth-membership-age-taxation-issues/|title=Troubles With Canada's Credit Union System ...Is the US Next?|date=2013-05-16|work=The Financial Brand|access-date=2017-03-15|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Professional recognition ==
Skinner is a four-time recipient of the Women's Executive Network's (WXN) Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award, having received the accolade in 2010,<ref>{{cite web |title=Home {{!}} Financial Post Home Page {{!}} Financial Post |url=http://www.financialpost.com/magazine/Canada+Most+Powerful+Women/3938673/story.html |website=www.financialpost.com |language=en-CA}}</ref> 2011,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2011/12/06/canadas-most-powerful-women-top-100/|title=Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100|newspaper=Financial Post|date=6 December 2011}}</ref> 2012,<ref>{{cite news |title=Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada: Scotiabank Corporate Executives Award |url=http://business.financialpost.com/2012/12/04/top-100-most-powerful-women-in-canada-scotiabank-corporate-executives-award/ |newspaper=Financial Post |date=4 December 2012 |language=en-CA}}</ref> and 2014,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mckenzie |first1=Kevin Hinton & Ryan |title=BCBusiness |url=http://www.bcbusiness.ca/people/bcs-16-most-powerful-women-leaders |website=www.bcbusiness.ca |date=27 November 2014 |language=en}}</ref> earning her entrance into WXN's Hall of Fame. She was also recognized by Business in Vancouver as one of the Most Influential Women in Business in 2011.<ref>http://www.biv.com/iwib/></ref> In 2007, Skinner was included as one of the "Four Women to Watch" in Fortune Magazine’s 50 Most Power Women feature.<ref>{{cite web |title=4 women to watch - Launi Skinner (4) - FORTUNE |url=https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0709/gallery.women_to_watch.fortune/4.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207172639/http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0709/gallery.women_to_watch.fortune/4.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 7, 2007 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref> Internationally, Skinner received the 2011 Stevie Award for Best Canadian Executive.<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Honorees {{!}} Stevie Awards |url=http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/women/awards/414_2252_21305.cfm |website=stevieawards.com |date=26 March 2012 }}</ref>
Skinner has contributed to a number of boards and community organizations. She is a strong advocate for women in business and is deeply involved in the community. She served as past-chair for the Metro Vancouver YWCA Women of Distinction Awards in 2010 and 2011. Skinner is also a community leader for the Minerva Foundation for BC Women. Additionally, she is a board member for Rocky Mountaineer,<ref>{{cite web |title=Truly Moving Train Journeys {{!}} Rocky Mountaineer |url=http://www.rockymountaineer.com |website=www.rockymountaineer.com}}</ref> and Science World.<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Directors, Friends and Patrons |url=http://www.scienceworld.ca/board |website=www.scienceworld.ca}}</ref> Skinner is a former member of the board of governors for Kwantlen Polytechnic University.<ref>http://www.kwantlen.ca/news/2010/120910.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521100243/http://kwantlen.ca/news/2010/120910.html |date=2011-05-21 }}></ref> and former board member of Qtrade Financial Group.
==Notes== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skinner, Launi}} Category:Businesspeople from British Columbia Category:Canadian businesswomen Category:Living people Category:1964 births