CFP Board Names Asha P. Williams as Managing Director of Communications and Marketing.

WASHINGTON -- Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), the professional regulatory body for over 56,000 professionals holding CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER([TM]) certification, has announced that it has named Asha P. Williams to the position of Managing Director of Communications and Marketing, effective October 18, 2007.

Ms. Williams joins CFP Board with more than 20 years of high-level experience in the marketing field, and has authored numerous research reports on topics closely related to marketing. Prior to joining CFP Board, Ms. Williams served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Society of Financial Service Professionals in Newton Square, PA. In that position, she was a key member of the organization's leadership team, helping to provide education, professional resources and ethical guidance to over 18,000 financial professionals.

In her new role, Ms. Williams will work to enhance public awareness of the value of financial planning and CFP([R]) certification through integrated communications and marketing strategies. Key to that work will be establishing effective working relationships with organizations whose missions are aligned with CFP Board.

"Asha is a high-caliber communications professional whose experience will make her an asset to our organization," said Kevin R. Keller, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of CFP Board. "We are pleased to have the benefit of her knowledge as CFP Board moves toward the next phase of its evolution."

CFP Board is in the process of moving its operations to the nation's capital from its current location in Denver, Colorado. The organization expects the move to help it become a more vigorous advocate for the public's interest, and to facilitate a more influential voice in public policy debates during a time when more Americans than ever are in need of competent and ethical financial planning.

"CFP Board's long and distinguished history makes me proud to be joining its leadership team at this critical juncture," said Ms. Williams. "As the organization progresses in its mission to serve consumers and be an effective regulator, I look forward to working with CFP Board's leadership, financial planning professionals and especially the public."

Ms. Williams' career includes serving at MONY Financial Services, where she was responsible for managing marketing research, planning and product development functions for the group insurance division. She also served as a Vice President of Market Development at Beacon Corporate Benefit Services, where she developed the company's strategic business plan, and led the marketing and communications campaigns. As a marketing and strategy consultant at Consortium Health Plans, Ms. Williams conducted market research and directed the marketing and sales promotional activities for the company. Ms. Williams holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from St. Xavier's College in Bombay, a master's degree in Psychology from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from New York University.

The mission of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is to help people benefit from competent, professional and ethical financial planning. CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP([R]), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER[TM] and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. CFP Board currently authorizes more than 56,000 individuals to use these marks in the United States.