Strong cuts ties with Strong Financial Corp.

Richard S. Strong resigned as chairman, chief executive officer and chief investment officer of Strong Financial Corp., effective immediately, according to the company. Mr. Strong also resigned from the boards of Strong Financial and Strong Mutual Funds, and will divest himself of voting control of Strong Financial. Mr. Strong is majority owner of Strong Financial. Kenneth Wessels, former president of Dain Rauscher Wessels Capital Markets and a director of parent Dain Rauscher Corp., will become chairman and CEO of Strong. Mr. Wessels retired from Dain Rauscher in May 2001. Richard T. Weiss, Strong portfolio manager, will lead the Strong investment department.