Aames Financial Names New CEO, President

Aames Financial Corp. said it promoted Chief Operating Officer Cary Thompson to chief executive and named Vice Chairman Neil Kornswiet president to replace Chairman Gary Judis in those posts. Judis, 58, has been chairman, chief executive and president of the Los Angeles-based mortgage lender and financial services company since 1982. Aames said the moves allow Judis to focus his attention on the broader strategic issues confronting the company. Thompson, 40, was named chief operating officer in March 1996, after having worked with the company for a number of years as managing director and head of the U.S. Financial Institutions Group for NatWest Markets, the investment banking arm of NatWest Group. Kornswiet, also 40, is vice chairman and chief executive and president of the company’s One Stop Mortgage Inc. unit. Aames shares declined 62.5 cents to close at $10.875 on the NYSE.