Steve Dowden, president/CEO of CUNA Brokerage Services Inc. will leave the company at the end of October to serve as president/CEO of broker-dealer INVEST Financial Corp., the firm announced today.

The Tampa, Fla.-based INVEST said Dowden, who will start his new role in November, succeeds Lynn Niedermeier, who retired in July after serving as the firm's president/CEO since 2001.

In addition to heading CUNA Brokerage, Dowden has served as senior vice president of distribution at the Madison, Wis.-based company. The 25-year financial industry veteran led a sales force of 550 advisers and was responsible for all sales within CUNA Brokerage's asset accumulation division, according to INVEST. Dowden also developed and implemented the company's MEMBERS financial services and wealth management platform during his eight years with the firm, INVEST said.

INVEST, a subsidiary of the National Planning Holdings Inc. independent broker-dealer network, counts credit unions among its clientele. NPH is an affiliate of Jackson National Life Insurance Company.