Stephens Announces CEO Succession With Third Generation of Family Leadership

Miles Stephens and John Stephens named Co-CEOs

Laura Stephens Brookshire named Chair of Executive Committee

Warren Stephens to retire as President and CEO, will retain Chairman Role

Stephens, an independent, family-owned group of financial services firms, announced today that Miles Stephens and John Stephens have been named Co-Chief Executive Officers. They succeed their father, Warren Stephens upon his retirement as President and CEO, effective January 7, 2025. Warren Stephens will retain the title of Chairman. Further, Laura Brookshire (née Stephens), has been named Senior Executive Vice President and Chair of the Executive Committee, where she, alongside her brothers and the broader Stephens C-Suite, will play an integral role in the stewardship and continued growth of the firms. This transition marks Stephens’ third era of generational leadership, following Warren Stephens’ 39-year tenure as CEO of the 91-year-old family business that was built on a handshake between his uncle Witt and father Jackson T. Stephens.

As Co-CEOs, Miles Stephens and John Stephens will oversee Stephens’ diversified offerings of investment banking and advisory services, wealth management, family office services, research, sales & trading, asset management, public finance, insurance, and private capital, across strategic markets in the United States and Europe as well as serve on the Stephens Executive Committee.

Messrs. Stephens share more than 20 years of experience working at Stephens. Miles Stephens has led Stephens Insurance as President and CEO since 2019, where he strengthened its areas of expertise and market presence. Earlier, he served as a senior vice president in Stephens’ investment banking division, where he advised mid- to large-sized businesses with a focus on the auto retail sector. Prior to joining Stephens in 2014, he held research positions at Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management and Lehman Brothers. As managing director within investment banking, John Stephens contributed significantly to the division’s Family Advisory Services Group’s growth and client acquisition, deepening Stephens’ global network of family offices and family businesses. He has served on the Management Committee for Stephens’ London and Frankfurt offices since 2019. His tenure at Stephens began in 2011 with Stephens Investment Management Group where he worked as an equity analyst. Miles Stephens is a graduate of Dartmouth College. John Stephens is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Both received their MBAs from Columbia University.

“I’d like to congratulate our father, Warren Stephens. He has done a remarkable job of leading Stephens for almost four decades. He has given my siblings and me a great opportunity to carry forth his vision of a relationship-based, family-owned financial services business. I look forward to continuing the tradition of our family’s management of Stephens,” stated Miles Stephens, Co-CEO, Stephens.

John Stephens, Co-CEO, Stephens added, “Miles and I envisioned working together in our youth, long before we knew what Stephens did. We have since worked hard to fully appreciate all aspects of the firm and have had the privilege of learning from, and working with, our father. Now with our sister, Laura, whose passion for the business is second to none, and an Executive Committee with the unique experience of having worked with three generations of our family, we are positioning Stephens for many decades to come.”

The Stephens Executive Committee will support Messrs. Stephens through the transition and beyond. Committee Chair Laura Brookshire is a Senior Executive Vice President within Stephens’ marketing and communications group, which is responsible for corporate reputation, impact initiatives, and marketing campaigns to support revenue generation. She joined the family of companies in 2015, after serving as a public relations consultant to Stephens as well as other financial services and middle market companies. Mrs. Brookshire is a graduate of Washington and Lee and earned her MBA from Southern Methodist University. The remaining committee members are Stephens executives Brad Eichler, Mark Doramus, and Doug Martin. Collectively, they possess more than 100 years of Stephens tenure, experience, and insights and will work with the new leadership team to further client and business success.

“I am thrilled to witness this transition from our father to my brothers, Miles and John. I am immensely proud of our father’s 39 years of leadership and have the utmost respect for my brothers. As Co-CEOs, I know they will work tirelessly to ensure Stephens’ success. I am honored to serve as chair of the Executive Committee as we look to expand upon our family’s incredible legacy and grow our business,” concluded Laura Brookshire, Senior Executive Vice President, Stephens.

About Stephens

“Stephens” (the company brand name) is a leading family-owned investment firm that includes Stephens Inc. (member NYSE/SIPC), Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC, Stephens Insurance, LLC, Stephens Capital Partners LLC and Stephens Europe Limited (Registered office: 12 Arthur Street, London, EC4R 9AB, Registered number 8817024), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Stephens Inc. is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1933, Stephens Inc. provides securities brokerage, investment banking and other financial services to a broad client base which includes corporations, state and local governments, financial institutions, institutional investors and individual investors throughout the United States and overseas. Stephens Inc. (Home Office: 111 Center Street, Little Rock, AR USA, 501-377-2000) is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Member SIPC/NYSE. For more information, visit www.stephens.com.

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