NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC (“Joseph Gunnar” or the “Firm”), a full-service investment bank, today announced that Stephan A. Stein has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Stein succeeds Joseph A. Alagna, who founded Joseph Gunnar in 1997 and has served as its Chief Executive Officer for nearly three decades. Alagna will remain Chairman and majority owner of Joseph Gunnar while stepping away from the Firm’s day-to-day management and supervisory responsibilities.
As CEO, Stein will oversee Joseph Gunnar’s operations and strategic direction as the Firm continues to expand its focus on investment banking and capital markets. Stein, formerly a practicing attorney in New York City, joined Joseph Gunnar in 1999 to develop its investment banking platform and has been its President and Chief Operating Officer since 2005.
“Stephan has been an integral part of Joseph Gunnar’s growth and has earned the confidence and respect of our team, our clients and me personally,” said Alagna. “After nearly 30 years leading the Firm, I believe this is the right time for Stephan to take the helm. He understands our business, our culture and the entrepreneurial approach that has defined Joseph Gunnar from the beginning. I have tremendous confidence in his ability to lead the Firm into its next chapter.”
Alagna will devote greater attention to Buttonwood Group Advisors (“Buttonwood” or “BGA”), the alternative asset management business he and Stein founded in 2011. Buttonwood has evolved considerably since its formation, and Alagna plans to focus on the continued development and expansion of its initiatives and its investment strategies.
“Joseph Gunnar has an extraordinary history and a culture built around entrepreneurship, relationships and delivering for our clients,” said Stein. “I am honored by Joe’s confidence in me and excited to lead the Firm at an important point in its evolution. We have a talented team, a strong platform and significant opportunities ahead of us. My focus will be on building upon that foundation while continuing to evolve the Firm for its next phase of growth.”
Alagna added, “Joseph Gunnar and Buttonwood represent two businesses that I care deeply about and have spent years building with Stephan. This transition allows each organization to have the dedicated leadership and focus necessary for its next stage of development. I look forward to continuing to support Stephan while dedicating more of my time to the opportunities we see ahead for Buttonwood.”
About Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC
Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC is a full-service boutique investment banking, securities and wealth management firm with main offices in New York. The Firm provides a full array of financial services including investment banking; private wealth management; global institutional equity, fixed-income and derivatives sales and trading, equity research, and advisory services to a diverse range of corporate clients, institutional investors, and high net-worth individuals. Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC's affiliate Buttonwood also offers suitable individual and entity investors membership interests in pre-IPO venture investments. Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC is a registered broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) and is a member of the following: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); Securities Insurance Protection Corporation (SIPC); and NASDAQ Stock Market. To learn more about Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC, visit www.josephgunnar.com.
About Buttonwood Group Advisors LLC
Founded in 2011, Buttonwood Group Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing investment advisory services to private investment funds. The firm seeks to provide individual and institutional investors access to fast-growing, globally disruptive private companies. Additional information about Buttonwood Group Advisors can be found www.buttonwoodfunds.com.
Media Contact:
Anna Stone, Chief Marketing Officer
Email: Astone@jgunnar.com
