Lazard Managing Director Tracy Farr Appointed Chief Financial Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Lazard (NYSE: LAZ) appointed Tracy Farr as Chief Financial Officer, effective February 1, 2026. Mr. Farr, a 20-year finance professional and long-time Lazard managing director, succeeds Mary Ann Betsch, who will remain as senior advisor to complete the transition.

The company noted Mr. Farr's background in capital structure advisory, prior roles at EY and FASB, and his role in supporting Lazard 2030 objectives. Lazard also announced fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results in a separate release.

Positive

• Internal succession: CFO role filled by long-time Lazard executive
• New CFO brings 20 years of finance experience
• Outgoing CFO to serve as senior advisor ensuring continuity
• Appointment aligns finance leadership with Lazard 2030 goals

Negative

• CFO transition creates potential short-term leadership change risk

News Market Reaction

+2.24%

2 alerts

+2.24% News Effect

+$116M Valuation Impact

$5.29B Market Cap

0.1x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, LAZ gained 2.24%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Our momentum scanner triggered 2 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $116M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $5.29B at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Experience: 20 years Service at Lazard: Over a decade CFO effective date: February 1, 2026 +2 more

5 metrics

Experience 20 years Tracy Farr’s finance career length cited in appointment release

Service at Lazard Over a decade Time Farr has spent at Lazard prior to CFO role

CFO effective date February 1, 2026 Effective date of Tracy Farr’s appointment as CFO

Prior CFO tenure start 2022 Year Mary Ann Betsch joined Lazard as CFO

Strategic plan horizon Lazard 2030 Long-term plan referenced in context of CFO transition

Market Reality Check

Price: $57.00 Vol: Volume 1,545,313 vs 20-da...

high vol

$57.00 Last Close

Volume Volume 1,545,313 vs 20-day average 966,679, indicating elevated trading interest ahead of this announcement. high

Technical Shares at $52.61, above 200-day MA of $49.35 and about 9.4% below the 52-week high of $58.07.

Peers on Argus

LAZ was down 0.3% with mixed peer action: MC -1.1%, PIPR -0.34%, SNEX -0.8%, whi...

LAZ was down 0.3% with mixed peer action: MC -1.1%, PIPR -0.34%, SNEX -0.8%, while BGC +1.12% and PJT +1.23%. This pattern suggests today’s setup was more stock-specific than a unified sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 22 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 22	Fund distribution update	Neutral	-3.3%	Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund declared a monthly distribution.
Jan 21	Conference appearance	Positive	+3.6%	Asset Management CEO scheduled to speak at UBS Financial Services Conference.
Jan 20	Conference appearance	Positive	-2.6%	CEO and Chairman to speak at Bank of America Financial Services Conference.
Jan 14	Earnings timing notice	Neutral	+1.1%	Announcement of date and time for Q4 and full-year 2025 results.
Jan 13	AUM update	Neutral	-2.3%	Preliminary December 2025 AUM and asset class breakdown disclosed.

Pattern Detected

Recent headlines have often been informational (AUM updates, conferences, fund distributions), yet price reactions frequently diverged from the neutral tone, with only one clearly aligned positive move.

Recent Company History

Over the past weeks, Lazard issued several updates, including a December AUM report of $254.3 billion and details on preliminary quarterly AUM of $261.1 billion. It also pre-announced timing for its Q4 and full-year 2025 results on Jan 29, 2026 and highlighted executive participation at major UBS and Bank of America financial services conferences. A Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund release detailed a monthly distribution heavily characterized as return of capital. Against this backdrop, today’s CFO appointment fits into a period of active corporate communication and leadership visibility.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement centers on a CFO transition, with a long-serving Lazard executive taking over from...

Analysis

This announcement centers on a CFO transition, with a long-serving Lazard executive taking over from a finance leader credited with guiding the C‑corporation transition and strengthening reporting. The change occurs while the stock trades above its 200-day MA and below its 52-week high, following recent AUM disclosures and investor conference appearances. Investors may watch how the new CFO positions capital allocation, efficiency initiatives, and communication around the Lazard 2030 plan alongside forthcoming earnings details.

Key Terms

certified public accountant, capital structure, m&a, c-corporation

4 terms

certified public accountant financial

"Before joining Lazard, he was a Certified Public Accountant and consultant at EY"

A certified public accountant (CPA) is a licensed accounting professional who has passed rigorous exams and met education and experience requirements to prepare, review, and officially certify financial statements and tax filings. For investors, a CPA's involvement is like a neutral referee confirming that a company's reported numbers are accurate and follow accounting rules, which improves trust in financial reports and lowers the risk of unexpected errors or misleading information.

capital structure financial

"served as a Managing Director in the firm's Capital Structure Advisory group"

Capital structure is the way a company finances its operations and growth by using different sources of money, such as borrowed funds (loans or bonds) and owner’s equity (investments from owners or shareholders). It’s like a recipe for baking a cake, where the balance of ingredients affects the final product's strength and taste; similarly, the mix of debt and equity influences a company's stability and risk. For investors, understanding a company's capital structure helps gauge how risky it might be to invest or lend money.

m&a financial

"experience advising clients on complex M&A transactions, growth initiatives, and capital structure"

M&A, short for mergers and acquisitions, involves one company combining with or purchasing another company to grow, streamline operations, or gain competitive advantages. For investors, M&A activity can signal potential for increased value, new opportunities, or changes in market dynamics, making it an important factor to watch in the business landscape.

c-corporation regulatory

"As CFO, she guided the firm's transition to a C-corporation and expanded shareholder engagement"

A C-corporation is a legal business structure where the company is its own entity separate from the people who own it; shareholders buy stock but the corporation holds assets, signs contracts and pays taxes on profits. For investors this matters because a C-corp can raise capital more easily and limits personal liability, but profits can be taxed twice—once at the company level and again when distributed as dividends—affecting returns.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lazard, Inc. (NYSE: LAZ) today announced that Tracy Farr has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective February 1, 2026. Mr. Farr is an accomplished finance professional with 20 years of experience. This includes over a decade at Lazard where he most recently served as a Managing Director in the firm's Capital Structure Advisory group and worked closely with executive management as a senior member of its corporate development and strategy team. Before joining Lazard, he was a Certified Public Accountant and consultant at EY, and a researcher at the Financial Accounting Standards Board. With deep corporate finance expertise and extensive experience advising clients on complex M&A transactions, growth initiatives, and capital structure, Mr. Farr is a proven leader in aligning financial strategy with long-term growth objectives.

Mr. Farr succeeds Mary Ann Betsch, who will serve as a senior advisor to help complete the transition. Ms. Betsch joined Lazard in 2022 and has played a significant leadership role in strengthening the firm's financial foundation and advancing its reporting and planning capabilities. Her collaborative approach to leadership and focus on team building has been instrumental in elevating and integrating our global finance function. As CFO, she guided the firm's transition to a C-corporation and expanded shareholder engagement to help bring new, long-term investors to Lazard.

"We are excited to announce Tracy as Lazard's Chief Financial Officer," said Peter R. Orszag, Lazard CEO and Chairman. "Tracy brings a rare combination of strategic insight, financial rigor, and deep familiarity with our business. He embodies the best of Lazard—commercial, collegial, and committed to excellence. As CFO, he will lead efforts to improve operational efficiency, helping drive profitable growth and progress toward Lazard 2030 goals, while playing a central role in engaging with the investment community. I share my appreciation for Mary Ann and her contributions in strengthening our global finance function, which provides Tracy with a strong foundation as we advance our vision for the future."

"It is an honor to serve as Lazard's Chief Financial Officer and to help achieve the next phase of our long-term strategy," said Mr. Farr. "It has been a privilege to work with Mary Ann and our talented finance professionals over the past few years. I look forward to building on their accomplishments to further align our financial strategy with firmwide priorities."

"Our teams at Lazard have done exceptional work as we built the foundation to support Peter's vision and the pursuit of our Lazard 2030 plan," said Ms. Betsch. "I am proud of what we have achieved together and confident the firm is well prepared for the opportunities ahead under Tracy's leadership."

Today, Lazard also announced fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results. You can read the full press release on Lazard.com.

About Tracy Farr
Mr. Farr joined Lazard in 2013 and most recently served as a Managing Director in the firm's Capital Structure Advisory group. In that role, he designed deal structures and provided financing solutions while advising Lazard's clients on some of the most notable and complex M&A transactions. In addition, he led the firm's separations practice and served as a member of its valuation and fairness opinion committees. His work has spanned industries and geographies, from large public-company transactions to founder-led private clients. Mr. Farr's background includes roles in consulting, forensic accounting, and internal audit, providing him with a broad and rigorous financial foundation. Before joining Lazard, he was a Certified Public Accountant and consultant at EY, and a researcher at the Financial Accounting Standards Board. He holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Accounting from Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Business, where he also serves on its National Advisory Council.

About Lazard
Founded in 1848, Lazard is the preeminent financial advisory and asset management firm, with operations in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Lazard provides advice on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and capital solutions, restructuring and liability management, geopolitics, and other strategic matters, as well as asset management and investment solutions to institutions, corporations, governments, partnerships, family offices, and high net worth individuals. Lazard is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as Lazard, Inc. under the ticker LAZ. For more information, please visit Lazard.com and follow Lazard on LinkedIn.

INVESTOR CONTACT
Alexandra Deignan
+1 212 632 6886
alexandra.deignan@lazard.com

Media Contacts
Shannon Houston
+1 212 632 6880
shannon.houston@lazard.com

Jessica Francisco
+1 212 632 6571
jessica.francisco@lazard.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lazard-managing-director-tracy-farr-appointed-chief-financial-officer-302673434.html

SOURCE Lazard

FAQ

Who is the new CFO of Lazard (LAZ) and when does he start?

Tracy Farr is Lazard's new Chief Financial Officer, starting February 1, 2026. According to the company, he will assume CFO responsibilities immediately and lead finance efforts tied to Lazard 2030 objectives and investor engagement.

What is Tracy Farr's background before becoming LAZ CFO?

Mr. Farr has 20 years of finance experience, including over a decade at Lazard. According to the company, he served as a managing director in Capital Structure Advisory and previously worked at EY and the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

What role will Mary Ann Betsch play after the LAZ CFO transition?

Mary Ann Betsch will serve as a senior advisor to complete the transition. According to the company, she will help ensure continuity after guiding the firm's C-corporation conversion and finance integration since 2022.

How does the LAZ CFO change relate to Lazard's strategic goals?

The appointment is intended to support operational efficiency and Lazard 2030 goals. According to the company, the new CFO will focus on driving profitable growth and engaging the investment community toward long-term objectives.

Did Lazard (LAZ) release financial results with the CFO announcement?

Yes, Lazard issued fourth quarter and full year 2025 results alongside the CFO news. According to the company, the detailed financial release is available separately on Lazard's investor channels for further review.