Qualified Financial Services (QFS) announced Oct. 4 that Fiona Cuddy, QFS president since 2018, will leave the company to move on to a senior leadership role with one of its key carrier partners, effective Oct. 14, 2022.
Prior to her departure, the president promoted the three children of Kevin Cott, the managing general agency’s founder and current chairman, to the most senior leadership roles in the company next to his.
The company says the promotions are part of a formal succession plan that has been underway since 2010. Immediately following the announcement, Jesse Cott, Corey Cott and Haley Cott assumed the roles of senior vice president, finance and operations, senior vice president of sales and senior vice president of sales support and administration, respectively.
Kevin Cott says the announcement is the fruition of a plan he conceived of when the company was founded in 1997. The firm adds that Cuddy’s mandate when she was hired in 2018 included mentoring the three Cott executives to this point. Kevin Cott will remain in his role as chairman.
In addition to the Cott promotions, Cuddy also promoted Diana Di Renzo, who has been with the firm for 21 years, to director of human resources and talent development, a new leadership role for the firm.