Copyright © 2008 Vining Sparks IBG, LP
Vining Sparks New Release
For Immediate Release
Media Contact
Jim Vining
jvining@viningsparks.com
800-829-0321
Mark Medford Named President and CEO of Vining Sparks
Memphis, TN (August 5, 2008) – Vining Sparks announced today that Mark Medford will succeed Jim Vining as president and CEO.
“This opportunity is attractive to me in large part because of the commitment to community banking that Jim Vining has nurtured at Vining Sparks over the years,” Medford said. “I want to continue the certainty of independence, growth and the culture of Vining Sparks.”
Medford, previously president and CEO of FTN Financial, Memphis, Tenn., and a former partner with KPMG, LLP, has more than 25 years associated with the financial services industry. Vining, who has held the top position since the firm’s founding in 1981, will continue as the nonexecutive chairman for a transition period.
“A fundamental and overriding consideration for me is that I want Vining Sparks to remain independent. The transition to Mark allows this to happen,” said Vining.
“This opportunity fulfills my goals of ownership and autonomy over an industry-leading broker/dealer serving the needs of thousands of institutional customers,” said Medford.
About Vining Sparks
Vining Sparks is nationally recognized as a leading broker/dealer in serving the investment needs of institutional investors. The firm was started in 1981 by Jim Vining to serve the investment and asset/liability needs of community banks. The current customer base includes hundreds of other clients such as savings and loans, credit unions, municipalities, money managers, trust departments, insurance companies, pension funds, and investment advisors. Vining Sparks has over $50 million in capital and an annual trading volume exceeding $170 billion with customers located in all 50 states and many foreign countries.