Lazard Managing Director Tracy Farr Appointed Chief Financial Officer

Lazard (NYSE: LAZ) appointed Tracy Farr as Chief Financial Officer, effective February 1, 2026.

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

Argus Jan 29 session

+2.24% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – LAZ

On Jan 29, the day this news came out, LAZ closed 2.24% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jan 29 session.

Key Figures

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

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

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 22

5 events

1. Jan 22

   Fund distribution update

   24h Move

   -3.3%

   Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund declared a monthly distribution.

2. Jan 21

   Conference appearance

   24h Move

   +3.6%

   Asset Management CEO scheduled to speak at UBS Financial Services Conference.

3. Jan 20

   Conference appearance

   24h Move

   -2.6%

   CEO and Chairman to speak at Bank of America Financial Services Conference.

4. Jan 14

   Earnings timing notice

   24h Move

   +1.1%

   Announcement of date and time for Q4 and full-year 2025 results.

5. Jan 13

   AUM update

   24h Move

   -2.3%

   Preliminary December 2025 AUM and asset class breakdown disclosed.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

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.

View in glossary

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.

View in glossary

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. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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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

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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.