Along with recently landing what’s considered to be the second largest credit union in the United States as a client, AKUVO on Friday announced the promotions of Melissa Bachman to chief product officer and Mike Ruggiero to chief strategy and innovation officer, expanding the company’s executive team and reinforcing its commitment to innovation, customer success, and long-term growth.

The provider of cloud-native collections software solutions that help banks, credit unions, and fintechs collect and manage their portfolios highlighted that the executive promotions recognize the significant leadership roles both Bachman and Ruggiero have played in AKUVO’s evolution.

Management added that the decision also reflect the company’s continued investment in building a strong, experienced leadership team positioned to guide its next phase of growth.

Bachman and Ruggiero have each helped shape AKUVO’s strategy and strengthen the company’s leadership across product direction, solution delivery, customer experience, and partner engagement.

Since joining AKUVO in 2021, Bachman has played a pivotal role in scaling the company’s product organization and strengthening how products move from concept to customer value.

As chief product officer, Bachman leads the teams responsible for product execution, delivery, and operational excellence across the organization. Under her leadership, AKUVO has continued to refine its product development processes and delivery practices, helping teams accelerate execution, improve quality, and maintain a relentless focus on customer outcomes.

Ruggiero also became a part of AKUVO in 2021 to lead the company’s customer loyalty team. He later transitioned to lead partnerships, where he has been instrumental in developing more than 40 strategic partnerships that expand value for customers and accelerate innovation across the platform.

In his new role as chief strategy and innovation officer, AKUVO said Ruggiero will help guide product direction, partner strategy, and market alignment while ensuring the company remains closely connected to the evolving needs of financial institutions.

“Melissa and Mike have each made a significant impact on AKUVO through their leadership, expertise, and commitment to our customers and partners,” AKUVO founder and CEO Jay Mossman said in a news release. “They bring deep industry knowledge, strong relationships, and a passion for helping our customers succeed. I’m excited to see them continue expanding their leadership and influence across the organization.”

Bachman, Ruggiero and the rest of the AKUVO team will now be looking to serve State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU), the second largest credit union in the United States with more than $60 billion in assets and over 3 million members that selected AKUVO as its collections technology provider.

According to another news release, SECU selected AKUVO to help streamline its collections operations through a platform that combines intelligent playbook automation, analytics, and digital member engagement.

“As we continue investing in technologies that strengthen our ability to serve members and support our employees, it is important that we work with providers who understand both the scale of our organization and our commitment to member service,”, of State Employees’ Credit Union chief credit and revenue officer Stacie Walker said in the other news release.

“AKUVO demonstrated a deep understanding of the credit union industry and a clear vision for how technology can help us enhance operational efficiency while maintaining a member-centric approach. We are confident AKUVO will help position SECU for continued success as we evolve to meet the needs of our growing membership,” Walker continued.

AKUVO chief growth officer Steve Castagna added, “SECU is one of the most respected credit unions in the country, and AKUVO is honored to earn their trust.

“Organizations of this scale set a very high bar for technology providers. Their decision reflects the growing need for modern collections technology that helps institutions operate more efficiently, engage members more effectively, and make smarter, data-driven decisions,” Castagna went on to say.