Bates Group Appoints Benjamin R. Pappas as CEO

Bates is proud to announce the appointment of Benjamin R. Pappas (pictured) as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Previously, Pappas was Bates Group’s President, where he was responsible for driving the firm’s overall growth strategy. 

Pappas succeeds former CEO Jennifer Stout, who will be taking up new roles as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors and Senior Executive Advisor to the firm. Client engagement will remain a key priority for Stout. She will continue to maintain close relationships with clients and will be actively involved in conducting outreach to Bates Group's portfolio of financial firms and counsel.  

Stout said, “It has been an honor serving as an executive leader of Bates Group and working alongside our outstanding staff and wonderful clients. As I proceed in my new roles, I look forward to supporting Ben in his new position, and I am confident in Bates’ continued success.”   

“I am excited to further lead and grow Bates with the goal of providing the best possible experience for our clients and staff," said Pappas, "and I am thrilled to continue to work with Jennifer for the benefit of our clients and firm. Our talented and dedicated team has a long history and reputation for delivering high-quality services to our clients while meeting the evolving needs of our industry. I am proud of all that we have accomplished and will continue to achieve going forward.”   

“Ben Pappas’ skilled and strategic leadership has helped expand Bates Group and our services to our industry and clients in many areas, including growing our compliance practices via acquisition of deep subject-matter expertise-led firms and new hires,” said Rob Lee, Bates Group Board Chair. “The Board and I look forward to our continued work with Ben and the many successes he will bring to the firm.” 

Pappas was appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Bates Group in 2016 and President in 2019. Before joining Bates, he was Senior Vice President and COO of D.A. Davidson Companies’ Equity Capital Markets business. There, he was responsible for implementing strategic growth initiatives and developing an annual financial budgeting and forecasting process.  

Stout’s decades-long leadership at Bates Group includes successfully leading and diversifying Bates from a retail litigation-focused expert consulting firm to a nationwide consulting firm offering services and solutions for litigation, regulatory, AML, and compliance clients at broker-dealer, registered investment advisors (RIA), banks, insurance, money services business (MSB), and digital assets firms.  

“The Board and I deeply appreciate Jennifer Stout’s leadership,” Lee said. “Jennifer has helped transform Bates into the widely recognized consultancy firm we are today. We are grateful for her continued leadership on the Board, her involvement in our industry, and her support of our clients.”  

Bates Group is a trusted partner to financial services clients, counsel, and non-banking financial institutions, delivering leading industry expertise, knowledge, and data-driven solutions for legal, regulatory, and compliance matters. With a professional staff and a network of more than 175 independent financial industry experts and consultants, Bates offers services in litigation consultation and testimony, regulatory enforcement and internal investigations, AML and compliance, state licensing, forensic accounting, damages, and big data consulting.