Kelly Duitsman Hunt was designated as the next Farm Credit Illinois CEO by the cooperative’s board of directors. Hunt assumes her new role effective Jan. 1, 2025. She will succeed current CEO Aaron Johnson who will retire December 31 after nearly 40 years with Farm Credit.

“After an extensive search for FCI’s next CEO, the board is confident Kelly Hunt will position the association for continued growth and focus on Helping Farm Families Succeed,” states FCI board chair Steve Hettinger. “We are looking forward to serving farm families under Kelly’s leadership in the coming years.”

Hunt is a CPA and has over 25 years of accounting experience with 15 years in public practice. She joined Farm Credit Illinois in 2016 as senior vice president and chief financial officer and was named executive vice president in 2022.

Hunt is a native to Champaign County and earned an accountancy degree from the University of Illinois after obtaining a business administration degree from Parkland College. She serves on the Parkland College Foundation Board of Directors.

Kelly and her husband Greg reside in Champaign and have three daughters and two sons.