ASF, SIFMA Split; New Exec Director Hired at ASF

The American Securitization Forum has ended its administrative relationship with the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and said its acting executive director will now permanently assume that post. "The ASF has been self-funded and self-governed since its inception in 2002 but has utilized certain operational resources of SIFMA," the former trade group said. "That relationship has ended and the ASF will now independently serve the securitization markets to restore credit flow to Main Street." The group has been particularly focused on setting industry guidelines aimed at restoring new issuance in the residential mortgage-backed securities market. The ASF's board unanimously chose Tom Deutsch to permanently serve as the group's executive director. Previous to serving as acting executive director, Mr. Deutsch had been deputy executive director. Executive director George Miller resigned in December, saying he planned to remain professionally connected to the business but in a different capacity.