AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- EZCORP, Inc.
(Nasdaq: EZPW) announced today that it has formed an e-Commerce and
Card Services division to focus dedicated, specialized resources on
online lending and other digital forms of commerce. This new
division, which will be located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
area, has also assumed overall product management responsibility
for the Change Card, the company's general purpose integrated and
reloadable debit card.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090713/EZCORPLOGO)
Brent Turner has joined the
company as President of this new division, reporting directly to
Paul Rothamel, Chief Executive
Officer. Until earlier this year, Mr. Turner was Vice
President of Retail Financial Services at Rent-A-Center, where he
led the development of a chain of financial service centers
offering a variety of financial services such as check cashing,
short-term loans, installment loans, signature loans, tax services
and stored value cards, as well as an online channel. Prior
to joining Rent-A-Center in 2005, Mr. Turner was the Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of Herring Bancorp
(2003-2005) and held various positions with Ace Cash Express
(1998-2003).
At the same time, the company is enhancing its brick-and-mortar
network of pawn stores and consumer loan stores with the addition
of two seasoned executives, each reporting to Eric Fosse, President of North American
Operations.
Barry Guest has joined the
company as President, U.S. Retail Operations and is responsible for
driving the short and long-term profitability of the company's U.S.
pawn business. Prior to joining EZCORP, Mr. Guest spent 20
years at Blockbuster Canada Co., serving the last three years as
Vice President & General Manager, where he oversaw the
successful operation of 450 stores with over 6,500 employees.
James "Jimmy" Whatley has joined the company as President, U.S.
Financial Services and is responsible for growing the core business
in the U.S. and enhancing profitability through the implementation
of new products and services. Prior to joining EZCORP, Mr.
Whatley spent two years as Senior Vice President – Sales and Retail
Operations for Direct General Insurance; eleven years with
Blockbuster, Inc. in various positions, including Head of Global
Franchise and International Corporate Operations; and seven years
as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Advance
America Cash Advance Centers, Inc.
Paul Rothamel, EZCORP's President
and Chief Operating Officer, stated: "We are excited about
the creation of a dedicated digital and e-commerce division.
This team, under Brent's leadership, is charged with opening
new channels, making it easier for existing and new customers to
transact with us. Together with the addition of Barry and
Jimmy and the experience they bring to our core brick-and-mortar
businesses, we have made significant investments in talent and
technology for the future."
About EZCORP
EZCORP is a leading provider of specialty consumer financial
services. It provides collateralized non- recourse loans,
commonly known as pawn loans, and a variety of short-term consumer
loans, including payday loans, installment loans and auto title
loans, or fee-based credit services to customers seeking loans.
At its pawn stores, the company also sells merchandise,
primarily collateral forfeited from its pawn lending
operations.
EZCORP operates more than 1,100 pawn, buy/sell and personal
financial services stores in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The company also has significant
investments in Albemarle & Bond Holdings PLC (ABM.L), one of
the U.K.'s largest pawnbroking businesses with over 160 full-line
stores offering pawnbroking, jewelry retailing, gold buying and
financial services; and in Cash Converters International Limited
(CCV.L and CCV.AUS), which franchises and operates a worldwide
network of over 600 stores that provide personal financial services
and sell pre-owned merchandise.
EZCORP Investor Relations
(512) 314-2220
investor_relations@ezcorp.com
SOURCE EZCORP, Inc.