Asset Marketing Systems, San Diego, hired Les Durland in 2009 to help it through an important transition. That goal accomplished, the firm announced Durland will be retiring at the end of the year. Mike Botkin, president of Preservation Financial and Insurance Services Inc. will assume leadership as CEO effective immediately. Dee Costa, formerly senior vice president of Sales and Marketing will assume the role and responsibilities of AMS president, also effective immediately. Durland will remain CEO of Madison Avenue Securities, a broker-dealer partner, and serve as a consultant to AMS and advisor to its owners.
These announcements mark the company's planned return to its producer-centric roots, according to AMS' owners. "When our father founded this company, he continued his work as a producer which was very appealing to producers in the field," said Ricky Metcalfe, AMS owner and director of Public Relations. "They truly valued the insights that a producer working day in and day out brought to it, and in turn, to AMS producers."
AMS said the only change its producers can expect is to be led by someone who still works in the field, facing the same challenges they do each day as Botkin will continue to grow Preservation Financial while leading AMS.
