Stifel CEO Kruszewski named chairman of American Securities Association

Ronald J. Kruszewski, chairman and chief executive of Stifel Financial Corp., was named chairman of the American Securities Association on Wednesday, helming a group that represents regional financial firms in Washington. Mr. Kruszewski will head a 16-member board that includes officials from Raymond James Financial, D.A. Davidson & Co., Robert W. Baird & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott and PFS Investments Inc., among other firms. ASA will promote the interests of its members and their clients in regulation and legislation "through direct advocacy, strategic communications and grassroots political outreach," the group said on its website. Mr. Kruszewski said in a statement that ASA would help the firms "expand our presence in Washington." In the same statement, Christopher A. Iacovella, ASA chief executive, described the group's members as "Main Street financial services companies." The ASA was established in 2016, and Mr. Kruszewski's appointment essentially relaunches the organization. ASA will donate to congressional campaigns through the American Securities Association Political Action Committee. "We look forward to mobilizing resources to drive and implement our economic opportunity policy agenda," ASA spokesman Adam Rice wrote in an email.