National Holdings President Mark Goldwasser is leaving the firm

National Holdings Corp. president Mark Goldwasser is leaving the firm about two months after the brokerage firm agreed to be bought by Fortress Biotech Inc. He won't accept the board's extension of his contract on present terms, National Holdings said Wednesday. His last day will be Thursday. The firm, which is the parent of independent broker-dealers National Securities Corp. and vFinance Investments Inc., agreed in April to be acquired by Fortress. “I wish Fortress and their team the best and hope that National goes from strength to strength. I will be available to assist in the transition,” Mr. Goldwasser said in the company statement. “National has grown incredibly over the past 14 years, and I feel good about having played a role in that success.” He joined the firm in June 2000 and filled various senior roles, according to the statement. Robert Fagenson, executive chairman and CEO of National Holdings, said that he and “various members of our team" will be assuming Mr. Goldwasser's responsibilities on an interim basis "while we make well-considered decisions on which members of our deep management bench" will take on the roles he filled.