Mark D. Klein

Overview

Mark D. Klein has been president, chief executive officer and a member of our board of directors since April 2005. He has also been the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Ladenburg since April 2005. For the five years prior to joining our company, Mr. Klein served as the president and chief executive officer of NBGI Asset Management Inc. and NBGI Securities Inc., both affiliates of the National Bank of Greece, a leading financial institution in Greece. Prior to joining NBGI Asset Management Inc. and NBGI Securities Inc., Mr. Klein founded Newbrook Capital Management and Newbrook Securities in 1994 and served as the president and chief executive officer of the two firms until they were acquired by the National Bank of Greece in July 2000. Mr. Klein has also been a senior portfolio manager specializing in high net worth individuals for three major brokerage firms, including PaineWebber and Smith Barney Shearson. In addition to his traditional asset management experience, Mr. Klein founded Independence Holdings LLC, a private equity fund of funds company, in 1997. Mark Klein, who had served as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, will serve as Chairman of Ladenburg. Mr. Klein served as our president and chief executive officer until September 6, 2006, and served as the chairman of Ladenburg until February 20, 2007.