Prager Metis Names Lori Roth CEO as Firm Eyes Its Next Growth Phase

Leadership change at a Top 50 firm.

Prager Metis has named Lori A. Roth as its new CEO, effective January 1, 2026. Longtime firm leader Stuart H. Mayer steps into the COO role. The move sets the firm up for its next stage of global growth.

Why This Leadership Change Matters

Prager Metis operates across North America, Europe, and Asia, offering audit, tax, advisory, and international services. Roth is not an outside hire. She has spent decades inside the firm, most recently serving as global managing partner and co managing partner.

Under her leadership, key regions like the Northeast and Mid Atlantic expanded significantly. As CEO, she now oversees more than 100 partners and 600 professionals, along with firmwide strategy and growth.

Roth’s Background

Roth has worked in public accounting since 1984, with deep experience in audit, assurance, litigation support, and business valuation. Her client base includes real estate groups, closely held businesses, and U.S. subsidiaries of foreign banks, particularly Israeli institutions.

She is also frequently brought in as a neutral expert in shareholder disputes, divorces, and corporate breakups. Roth holds a degree in business and economics from Lehigh University and has received multiple industry recognitions, including NJCPA and Crain’s honors.

What Comes Next

The CEO COO pairing signals continuity, not a reset. Mayer’s operational role allows Roth to focus on strategy, partner alignment, and expanding the firm’s international footprint.

Why Firms Are Watching

As mid and large firms push harder into advisory and cross border work, leadership stability matters. Prager Metis is betting that an internal leader with audit credibility and global experience is the right person to scale the platform without disrupting clients.

Expect more firms to follow a similar playbook in 2026: promote from within, pair strategy with operations, and double down on international growth.