Focus Financial Partners said that President Adam Birenbaum will become CEO of the firm and a board member Feb. 1. The move is part of a planned succession change, according to the firm, with current CEO Michael Nathanson transitioning to board chair.
Birenbaum became Focus Financial’s president in April and also serves as CEO of Focus Partners Wealth. Nathanson was tapped to lead Focus Financial as CEO in April 2024, about seven months after Rudy Adolf, the firm’s founder and then-CEO, stepped down.
The executives merged their respective firms — which were part of Focus Financial’s network of RIA partner firms — in May 2024: Buckingham Strategic Wealth, which Birenbaum led, and The Colony Group, where Nathanson was CEO.
“It has been my privilege to lead and guide Focus through the most recent phase of its evolution … ,” Nathanson said in a statement. “Adam is a greatly admired and highly respected leader with an impeccable track record of building and leading key strategic initiatives at Focus. His unique skillset … will serve Focus well in the years ahead.”
Focus’ partner firms now work with $520 billion in combined client assets. Industry author and speaker Michael Kitces is head of planning strategy for two of the firm’s units: Focus Partners Wealth and Focus Partners Advisor Solutions.
“This transition executes on the thoughtful succession plan we have long envisioned," said Dan Glaser, executive chair of Focus and operating partner of the firm’s majority investment partner, CD&R. "Adam has been a key partner in advancing our strategic priorities, and he is the right leader to build on the foundation Michael set.”
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