Senior Leadership Team
Meet Direct Federal's Senior Leadership Team.
Note: Please do not send personal information, such as member number or social security number through email.
Senior Leadership Team
Joe Walsh
President & Chief Executive Officer
Joe started at Direct Federal in 1991 as Vice President of Operations, spent most of his time as Senior Vice President of Lending, and is now the President and Chief Executive Officer. Joe’s primary responsibility is to ensure that everyone on the Direct Federal team is focused on fulfilling our mission of providing our members with compelling rates, remarkable service, and immediate access to all of our banking solutions. Prior to joining Direct Joe worked for The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Deloitte & Touche, and BankBoston. He has a bachelor’s degree from Holy Cross and an MBA from Babson. Although a life-long resident of the Boston area, Joe proudly declares that his favorite local sports teams have always been whatever ones his three kids have played on. When not at Direct he will usually be found doing almost anything outdoors (biking, skiing, hiking, snowshoeing), reading, cooking, watching movies, or just hanging out with family and friends.
“My favorite part of working at Direct is reading our members’ responses to our surveys. We work very hard to do a great job for our members, so having those efforts validated almost without exception is absolutely the most rewarding part of my job.”
Michael Ferreer
Senior Vice President, Chief Member Officer
Michael has been with Direct since October 2014 and he credits the progressive direction of the company and its relentless passion for its members as guiding influences in his orientation. Prior to joining Direct, Michael worked in interactive advertising and financial services for over 13 years. In his new role at Direct, Michael is charged with spreading the word about Direct's unique value to members and the local community. When not listening for market trends and opportunities, Michael listens to a wide array of music – everything from Doo Wop and Motown to Hip Hop and Pop. He lists Dion and the Belmonts, Roy Orbison, Bruce Springsteen, and Michael Jackson as his favorite artists.
"My favorite part about working at Direct is teamwork. The employees of Direct Federal have a tight community and there is a pervasive and palpable dedication to hard work and doing right by the member. Direct Federal may not have the presence of the larger financial institutions in the area, but the members of the Direct Federal team share a common interest in flexible, efficient, member service that complements a tremendous suite of product solutions in a real impactful way."
Amy I. Horan
Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer
If you have any question related to the lending industry—Amy will know the answer. Amy joined Direct Federal in February 2016 with over 30 years’ experience in both residential and commercial lending. At Direct Federal her responsibilities include overseeing mortgage, auto and home equity loan originations and underwriting, as well as building Direct Federal’s loan offering. In her spare time, Amy enjoys skiing, travel, concerts and spending time with her friends and family.
"My favorite part of working at Direct is our employees. Every single person in this organization is dedicated to making our workday more enjoyable. The commitment Direct has to continuously improving our culture is part of what drew me here and is something that will keep me here for many years to come"
Jeff Rocha
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Fiercely passionate about maximizing the long-term financial vitality of Direct and its Members, Jeff serves as Chief Financial Officer overseeing accounting and finance, investments, audits both external and internal, budgeting, asset/liability management, bank secrecy and corporate facilities. Jeff has been with Direct for 15 years. Prior to joining the credit union, Jeff served as CFO of another credit union, having previously provided audit services in the industry. After work, Jeff can be found coaching his 3 kids in softball, baseball, soccer and math, rocking it out at high school battle of the bands, biking/hiking local trails, or cheering on all Boston sports teams.
"I am proud to be part of a team that consistently supports our members and our community. Whether offering someone their first auto loan, mortgage or savings account, or in support of our local community. Direct Federal truly cares about the financial wellbeing of our members at all ages and stages in life.”
Kristen Johnson
Senior Vice President, Employee & Brand Experience
Kristen firmly believes that creating remarkable member experiences starts with creating extraordinary employee experiences. Kristen and her team are responsible for culture, human resources, training and development, marketing, public relations, community relations, and financial literacy. She ensures that Direct Federal is a strong, solid, and memorable brand from the inside out. With a background in marketing, Kristen has been with Direct Federal since 2016 and has won many industry and internal awards since then. Outside of work, you can find her making an adventure out of the ordinary, whether it’s spending time at the beach on Cape Cod or skiing in New Hampshire. She is the proud mom to a 9-year-old and a 7-year-old.
“I love Direct Federal and the Credit Union movement. Every day I come to work committed to making sure Direct is not only one of the top places to bank but also one of the top places to work. The enthusiasm and drive our team has is infectious and I am thankful every day to be a part of this team.”
