Lazear Capital Partners (Lazear), a leading investment bank specializing in ownership transitions through Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and M&A advisory services, continues to expand its presence in California with the appointment of Managing Director Troy Starr as Southern California Market Leader.
The expansion strengthens Lazear’s commitment to serving business owners throughout the West Coast, with Troy leading the firm’s efforts across Southern California, including the Inland Empire region, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego markets. He will work alongside California Market Leader Steve Deis, who has led Lazear’s presence in the state since 2021.
Troy leverages a strong background in accounting, financial modeling, transaction execution, and ownership transition planning to help business owners achieve successful, goal-aligned exits. Since joining Lazear, he has supported and led dozens of ownership transition transactions, including ESOPs, acquisitions, and recapitalizations. His experience working directly within Lazear’s transaction execution team provides a deep understanding of deal structuring, valuation, due diligence, and the factors that drive successful ownership transitions.
Troy is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and holder of FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licenses. Before joining Lazear, he spent several years in Big 4 accounting serving Fortune 500 and middle-market clients and held a leadership role as Director of Accounting and Finance for a publicly traded retail company.
“Troy brings a level of technical expertise and transaction experience that is exceptionally rare in our industry,” said Bruce Lazear, founding partner of Lazear. “Few professionals have Troy’s depth of experience across plan design and execution; he understands what drives successful outcomes because he has been directly involved in helping business owners navigate complex ESOP transactions from start to finish. That expertise makes him uniquely qualified to serve business owners and advisors throughout Southern California.”
California remains one of the nation’s largest markets for privately held businesses, creating significant demand for ownership transition solutions. As more owners look beyond traditional third-party sales, ESOPs continue to gain momentum as a tax-advantaged strategy that provides liquidity while preserving independence, company culture, and legacy.
Starr believes Southern California’s entrepreneurial community presents a significant opportunity to help business owners explore ownership transition strategies that align with their financial goals while preserving the businesses, cultures, and teams they have worked hard to build.
“Southern California is home to an incredible community of entrepreneurs, business owners, and advisors,” said Starr. “I’ve had the opportunity to build strong relationships throughout the region and look forward to continuing to grow that network as we expand our presence in the market.”
In addition to his sell-side advisory work, Troy is a recognized thought leader in exit planning and ownership transitions. He has spoken at the Business Enterprise Institute’s National Exit Planning Conference and regularly shares insights on ESOPs, succession planning, business value maximization, and ownership transition planning through podcasts, industry forums, and educational programs.
About Lazear
Lazear is a premier middle-market advisory firm specializing in business ownership transitions nationwide. Headquartered in Columbus, OH, with a growing presence, the firm is dedicated to helping business owners maximize wealth and preserve legacies through customized exit strategies, including ESOPs and 1042, M&A, and capital formation.
To learn more, visit www.lazearcapital.com and follow Lazear on LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Katherine Koon
Marketing Director
kk@lazearcapital.com
614-502-1411
