Debt Resolve, Inc. (AMEX: DRV) announced today that Kenneth Montgomery has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective February 16, 2008, and that its Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, James D. Burchetta, has elected to step down as CEO, as planned after the one-year anniversary of the initial public offering (IPO). Mr. Burchetta will remain an active member of the senior management team and has been appointed Chairman of the Board & Founder. He will continue to oversee investor relations, corporate strategy and product development. Debt Resolve also announced today that its Chief Financial Officer, David M. Rainey, has been named President.

Mr. Montgomery has over 25 years in the financial services industry. From March 2003 to March 2006, he held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Pentegra Retirement Services, where he managed assets totaling over $4 billion and successfully transformed the culture to accelerate growth. From April 2001 to January 2003, Mr. Montgomery was Head of Sales and Business Development at CIGNA Retirement Services. Additional experience includes executive positions with IBM, Chemical Bank (now J.P. Morgan Chase), Putnam and Prudential. Mr. Montgomery received his Master of Science in Management from the Sloan Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Mr. Montgomery stated: ”I am excited to have been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Debt Resolve. My immediate plans include expanding distribution of Debt Resolve’s patent-based online collections tool and stimulating revenue growth.”

Mr. Rainey has been Chief Financial Officer at the company since March 2007. He has over 19 years of experience in public company accounting and finance roles, corporate governance, Sarbanes-Oxley issues, and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Debt Resolve, Mr. Rainey served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Hudson Scenic Studio, where he was responsible for finance and accounting. Prior to that, he was Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance at Star Gas Propane, L.P., a business unit of Star Gas Partners, L.P. Mr. Rainey also served as Treasury Generalist and Western Region Controller at Westvaco Corporation. Mr. Rainey holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Rainey commented: "I am gratified by the Board’s confidence in me and look forward to accelerating the improvement in Debt Resolve’s operating and financial performance."

Mr. Burchetta stated: “As planned prior to Debt Resolve’s IPO, I have decided to step aside to allow an experienced CEO to lead the Company. I am delighted that Ken Montgomery has agreed to join Debt Resolve. Ken has a proven record of corporate success. I am also pleased to appoint David as President. David has a wealth of experience both as Debt Resolve’s Chief Financial Officer and his prior experience as an attorney and executive will serve him well in his role as President. I will give David and Ken all of my support and advice."

Debt Resolve also announced today that Charles S. Brofman has stepped down from his position as Co-Chairman but will remain an active member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Brofman remarked: “I am very supportive of Ken Montgomery and I believe he can accelerate the growth of our business. Jim has done an outstanding job positioning this company and together with David Rainey they will make great team. I will continue to serve Debt Resolve as a Director and Co-Founder and am looking forward to participating in its success. My growing responsibilities as CEO of Cybersettle make this the opportune time to step aside as Co-Chairman, but continue my involvement with Debt Resolve."

Debt Resolve also announced today that Board Member Jeffrey S. Bernstein has stepped down as a Board Member to become a consultant on behalf of Debt Resolve in the areas of business development and collection strategy. Mr. Bernstein has 28 years of financial services industry experience, currently serving as CEO of Stratagem Portfolio Services, Inc., a San Rafael, Calif.-based analytics, modeling and strategy consulting firm. Mr. Bernstein was formerly a Global Solutions Leader with MasterCard Worldwide.


Next Article: PR - Gila Corp Expands Portfolio Of ...

Advertisement