Deanna Latson, CEO of Wealth Masters International's (WMI) PURE financial division, resigned last week, severing all ties with the company. Her departure comes just weeks before PURE's anticipated September 2011 launch, casting significant doubt on the division's future.
Wealth Masters International announced its expansion into nutrition and finance last November. The new divisions, branded Opes Partners and WMI PURE respectively, were both slated for 2011 launches. Opes Partners, the nutrition arm, quietly launched in the first half of 2011. It received minimal promotion from Wealth Masters and does not feature prominently on the company's website. This division has not contributed significantly to WMI's multi-level marketing operations.
PURE, under Latson's leadership, initially targeted a first-quarter 2011 launch. This date was later pushed back to September 2011. In May, Latson publicly accepted full responsibility for the delay, stating it was due to the time-consuming process of assembling a scientific board of advisors, many of whom were medical doctors requiring extensive negotiation.
Despite previous assurances, Latson announced her resignation from PURE and her complete separation from Wealth Masters International last week. She shared the news via a Facebook status update. "I have been privileged to work with you all for the last 6 years," Latson wrote to her WMI friends. "I am saddened to say that I will no longer be working with the WMI community. I will no longer be at the events or working with corporate." She expressed gratitude for her long-standing relationships and friendships formed over the six-year period.
Wealth Masters has issued no official statement regarding Latson's departure or the future of WMI PURE. Her sudden exit, with just over a month remaining until the planned launch, likely disrupts the division's timeline. The reasons behind Latson's decision to sever a six-year business relationship entirely, especially with a major company launch imminent, remain publicly unknown.
The quiet launch of Opes Partners and the uncertain status of WMI PURE, following Latson's resignation, prompt questions about Wealth Masters International's strategy. The company's primary focus may continue to be on recruitment rather than product line development.