(April 5 – 18:45 ET) – Assante Corp. today announced that Michael Nairne has stepped down as senior executive vice president, effective March 31. The company says Nairne will remain vice chairman of Assante’s board of directors.

Assante President and CEO Martin Weinberg extended his warm wishes to his close friend and colleague. “Michael has been part of Assante since the very beginning. He embraced and promoted our vision of providing integrated financial and life management services to clients through professional, trusted advisors. He has helped grow the company into what it is today. I am very pleased he will continue as a non-executive member of our board.”

Prior to joining Assante, Nairne was president and CEO of Equion Securities Canada Ltd. and Equion Financial Ltd. He led Equion through the 1995 merger with Loring Ward Investment Counsel to create Assante.

Nairne then became president and CEO of Assante Advisory Services, the company’s distribution arm, where he was responsible for working with Assante’s subsidiary financial advisory firms to assist them in achieving their business objectives, and developing a shared vision and common standards. Nairne assumed the role of Senior Executive Vice President with Assante Corp. in September 2000.