MINNEAPOLIS -

Debt collection association ACA International recently appointed a new chief executive officer. Assuming the post on June 1 is Patrick Morris.

ACA International highlighted that Morris has been an association executive for the past 16 years and brings a wealth of experience in financial services, regulatory and legislative issues, international affairs and insurance.

Morris is currently the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions in Arlington, Va. He joined the association, which represents the interests of the nation’s federally chartered credit unions, in February 2007.

Morris was previously the executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based International Committee for Information Technology Standards, an accredited standards development organization and a leading developer of global information technology standards, and the secretary-general of the International Federation for Produce Coding.

ACA International pointed out Morris began his association career in the financial services arena as the executive vice president of the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents where he was the CEO, directed the association’s operations and lobbied on behalf of the association’s members before the Kansas Legislature and state and federal agencies.

Morris started his professional career as an officer in U.S. Marine Corps, came to Washington, D.C., in 1986 with the prestigious Presidential Management Internship Program and subsequently worked in legislative affairs for the secretary of defense and U.S. Senator John Warner. He also held management positions as a federal regulator with the inspector general of the Department of Defense, directed regional operations for the Department of Agriculture in the Minneapolis area and was a manager with Norwest Corp. in Sioux Falls, S.D.

“We are thrilled to have found an individual of Pat’s talent, experience and enthusiasm,” insisted ACA International president Martin Sher.

“He has been involved close-up in Washington with the individuals and issues that directly affect our members — including the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — and his record of innovation, advocacy, international achievement and coalition-building will be a great match for ACA,” Sher continued.

“We look forward to Pat having an immediate impact on behalf of our members and building on our strategic initiatives to increase our visibility, enhance communications and deliver exceptional member service,” Sher concluded.