Ameritrade CEO Thomas Lewis Resigns

Ameritrade Holding Corp. said that Chief Executive Thomas Lewis resigned about three months after taking charge of the online brokerage, whose stock has stumbled this year. The fifth-largest U.S. online broker said that Lewis, whose career has included stints working for technology and insurance firms, left “for personal reasons.” Lewis was hired in March 1999 as co-chief executive, dividing duties with Ameritrade founder and Chairman Joe Ricketts, who also served as co-CEO. Lewis gained sole responsibility for the job in May of this year. Omaha, Neb.-based Ameritrade said the departure won’t affect earnings, and that Ricketts will take charge of the CEO’s role until a new executive is found. Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. recruiters already have been hired for that purpose, Ameritrade said. Lewis had worked at Baltimore-based insurer USF&G; Corp. before joining Ameritrade. Shares of the company closed up 13 cents at $13.06 on Nasdaq.