Stax appoints Jayson Traxler as chief executive officer

Stax, a Boston-headquartered M&A strategy consulting firm, has appointed Jayson Traxler as chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Traxler succeeds Rafi Musher, who founded the company in 1994. Musher has transitioned to serve as chairman of the board.

Traxler joined Stax in 2021 as chief operating officer after Blue Point Capital’s acquisition of the firm. He was named president the following year.

Traxler is a strategic finance executive with over 20 years of experience. He previously was SVP of corporate development at consulting firm K2 Integrity, a director in the investments and strategic finance practice of AlixPartners, and a director at Devon Value Advisors.

Earlier in his career, Traxler was an associate in Merrill Lynch’s corporate principal investments practice and a private equity associate at Blue Point.

He has an MBA from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and mathematics from The College of William & Mary.

“As the founder, having led the firm for nearly three decades, finding the right person with a compelling vision and hands-on execution capabilities was paramount,” Musher said. “Having known Jayson for over a decade and having collaborated closely, his extensive knowledge, valuable relationships, and continuous learning have been truly inspiring.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled for Jayson, Stax, and the promising future that lies ahead,” he added.

Since the Blue Point acquisition, Stax has achieved milestones including expanding into Europe, growing the New York office, and strengthening its value creation and sell-side capabilities.

Traxler says the firm has in the last 18 months created a strong foundation for long-term value generation.

“Stax is strategically mapping its path towards several key priorities that will shape our future success,” he said. “Our recent GTM strategy rollout is a transformative milestone that sets the stage for cultivating deeper client relationships and propels Stax towards a trajectory of accelerated growth.”

Traxler also noted the company is focusing on hiring senior talent, creating unique product offerings, and exploring new markets.

Stax provides corporate and private equity clients with consulting in commercial due diligence, value creation, and exit planning. The firm has more than 300 employees across locations in Boston, Chicago, New York, London, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.