Securities America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTSL, LTS PrA, LTSF, LTSK), announced that it has named Jim Meyers to the position of senior vice president and chief operating officer. In his new position, Meyers will provide leadership and management of the firm’s broker-dealer and RIA service platforms, and will formulate and implement operational strategies to support Securities America’s growth goals.
Jim Nagengast, Securities America’s chief executive officer and president, said, “We are thrilled to have an executive of Jim Meyers’ caliber and experience join Securities America in this vital role as our chief operating officer. Jim’s deep knowledge and experience, collaborative leadership style and commitment to going above and beyond for advisors will make him a tremendous addition to our team. We are excited for Jim to take a leading role in our efforts to further enhance our efficiency in pursuit of our most important mission: supporting our advisors and the clients they serve.”
In his new role, Meyers will oversee Securities America’s day-to-day brokerage operations and guide strategic planning to drive continuous operational excellence and further enhance the firm’s service levels. He will also be responsible for processes and controls across Securities America and will work closely with the firm’s Information Services department to design and implement new technology and applications. He will report directly to Nagengast.
Meyers brings leadership experience in senior operations positions with major financial firms to his new role. He joins Securities America from Ameriprise Financial, where he led cross-functional management and operational strategy development with responsibility for clearing operations, operational efficiency, process design, project execution and compliance. He also developed expertise in transition management for new advisor recruits and firm acquisitions.
Meyers said, “I was immediately attracted to Securities America’s reputation for setting a high bar in the resources and services they offer advisors. Beyond that, though, the firm’s culture is what really sold me. Everyone here is passionate about creating a team atmosphere, which is very important to me. One of the defining characteristics of this organization is that if you’re not a team player, you will not fit in.”
Meyers continued, “I’ve always felt that you’ll get the best out of your team if you put them first. The best leaders put the collective interest of the team ahead of their own and make sure everyone is provided with the tools they need to succeed. That’s what I’ve worked to do my whole career, and I look forward to bringing that approach to Securities America.”
Nagengast concluded, “On behalf of our leadership team, we are thrilled to have Jim aboard. I am confident that others throughout Securities America – and especially our advisors – will benefit greatly from his expertise as he helps us continue to improve our operational capabilities and ability to support advisors in taking their businesses to the next level.”
