AmeriVet Securities Inc. named two chief executive officers and hired two women veterans.
Mercedes Elias and Michael Naidrich have been appointed co-CEOs, replacing Elton Johnson, Jr., who recently moved to non-executive chairman, where he will focus on diversity and inclusion.
“As a Hispanic woman veteran, I’m excited and humbled to be named co-CEO of AmeriVet,” said Elias, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “My goal since joining the firm three years ago was to continue creating value, while shaping the veteran and minority space on Wall Street and I’m thrilled to have the utmost support from our investors and clients, who truly care about our vision and the work that we do.”
Naidrich has been in the financial services industry since 1993, joining AVI in 2017 as chief operating officer, and "developed the framework to relaunch the firm in 2018," the firm said.
“Our mission, first and foremost, has always been to provide first class capital markets and financing services, while producing meaningful results in the veteran community,” Naidrich said. “We do so by remaining authentic in our diversity and inclusion efforts. I’m honored to say those efforts start at the top with my partner and co-CEO Mercedes.”
The company hired two women veterans: Sidney Covington, a former medic in the U.S. Army and Jennifer McDonough, a U.S. Navy Reservist.
Covington will be the veteran engagement associate at AVI's Chicago office. McDonough is an operations associate at AVI and is a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves.
"Ms. Covington and Ms. McDonough are extremely talented individuals," said Bob Jones, president of AVI, U.S. Air Force veteran and former Vietnam Prisoner of War. "They are both veterans who are passionate about giving back to the community and I'm excited to welcome them to our team."
With the additions of Covington and McDonough, more than 50% of AVI's current staff are military veterans and 30% are minorities, exceeding its goal.
