Stephens General Counsel David Knight to Retire; Rachel Mondl Mayo Named Successor

Stephens, an independent financial services firm, today announced the retirement of David Knight, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, effective July 29, 2022. Mr. Knight joined Stephens in 1988 as the firm’s first general counsel. Over the course of 34 years, Mr. Knight proved to be an integral adviser throughout the firm, deftly navigating the complexities of a growing, generational business. Highly regarded for his acumen, integrity and resolve, the value of Mr. Knight’s contributions to Stephens and the financial services industry are immeasurable.

Rachel Mondl Mayo succeeds Mr. Knight, having worked alongside him since joining Stephens in February, 2021. As General Counsel, Mrs. Mayo assumes oversight of Stephens’ legal and regulatory matters as well as the firm’s legal department. She brings a wealth of corporate and government experience to the role. Most recently, she held senior executive positions at the U.S. Department of Labor, including as Chief of Staff to then-Secretary Eugene Scalia, and as Deputy Solicitor, the second-ranking lawyer in the Department. Before her time in government, she worked in the Washington, D.C. office of an international law firm, where she primarily represented firms in the financial industry and other major corporations. Mrs. Mayo is a summa cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University and received her J.D. with honors from Emory University School of Law. She clerked for the Honorable Frank Hull, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

“David has been a pragmatic and discerning steward of Stephens, giving us the assurance that our interests and concerns were always in good, capable hands. This trust in David began with my dad, continuing with me and now the third Stephens generation. We are ever grateful for his governance and leadership and we wish him well in retirement,” stated Warren A. Stephens, Chairman, President and CEO of Stephens Inc. “In the spirit of good stewardship, Rachel is a formidable successor well-matched to our business objectives and the future of the industry. We look forward to her leadership,” he concluded.

Mr. Knight stated, “This has been an incredible opportunity to work for the Stephens, one of America's great capitalist families. Stephens Inc. has provided me with a widely varied legal practice involving multiple disciplines, including corporate, securities, regulatory, employment, real estate and international law, litigation, arbitration, and lobbying and political matters. But the best part was getting to work with a large and growing group of smart, hard-working people committed to building long-term relationships with our clients and putting their best interests first. In my line of work, it doesn’t get better than that. It’s been a great adventure. I wish Rachel well in this rewarding and important role.”

“I'm thrilled to be selected as the next General Counsel at Stephens Inc., and congratulate David on his extraordinary tenure as General Counsel. One of the things that drew me to Stephens was the name on the door -- the Stephens family's commitment to the business over generations is unique in the industry. I look forward to working with all at Stephens as we advance the firm’s culture of client-driven service and continue to grow the business,” said Rachel Mondl Mayo, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Stephens Inc.

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.

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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