Rich Handler

Richard B. "Rich" Handler
Born	(1961-05-23) May 23, 1961 New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Business executive
Years active	1990–present
Known for	CEO of Jefferies since 2001

Richard B. "Rich" Handler (born May 23, 1961) is an American executive serving as the CEO of Jefferies since 2001, making him the longest-tenured CEO in the Wall Street sector.

Early life and education

Born to Alan and Jane Handler, Richard was raised in New Jersey and completed his secondary education at Pascack Hills High School in Montvale in 1979. He graduated magna cum laude with a BA degree in economics from the University of Rochester in 1983 and later earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1987. Prior to joining Jefferies, Handler gained experience as an investment banker at First Boston and worked within the high-yield bond division at Drexel Burnham Lambert. He is of Jewish heritage.

Jefferies

Handler began his career at Jefferies in April 1990 as a trader and salesperson. He was appointed CEO on January 1, 2001, and elevated to Chairman in 2002, following Frank E. Baxter’s tenure. Additionally, he leads Jefferies' Global Diversity Council. At the start of his leadership, Jefferies primarily operated as a trading company with a focus on the energy industry. By 2022, it had expanded to become the eighth-largest investment bank by revenue and ranked sixth in mergers and acquisitions volume. As of 2021, Handler held ownership of more than 7% of Jefferies’ shares.

Knight Capital Group turnaround

In August 2012, Handler was instrumental in orchestrating the recovery of Knight Capital Group after it suffered a $440 million loss due to a software malfunction. Working alongside Brian Friedman, President of Jefferies Financial Group, Handler structured a deal that positioned Jefferies as Knight Capital’s largest shareholder with approximately a 45% ownership stake.

Integration with Leucadia

Jefferies announced its merger with Leucadia National Corporation—its principal shareholder and longtime collaborator with Handler—in November 2012. The transaction finalized in March 2013, appointing Handler as CEO of both entities. In 2018, Leucadia was renamed Jefferies Financial Group Inc. to reflect its concentrated focus on financial services.

Additional roles

In October 2018, Handler was appointed Chair of The University of Rochester Board of Trustees, having been a member since 2005. He previously chaired the Finance Committee and co-led the university’s $1.37 billion fundraising initiative, The Meliora Challenge, which concluded in 2016.

In 2025, Handler encountered criticism related to allegations of union opposition following the university’s withdrawal from an election agreement with graduate workers. During commencement ceremonies, protesters expressed disapproval toward him; Handler responded with a dismissive attitude.

He maintains an active presence on social media platforms, conducting ‘ask me anything’ sessions on Instagram designed for individuals pursuing careers in banking and trading.

Philanthropy

In 2006, Handler and his wife Martha founded the Jane and Alan Handler Scholarship Fund at the University of Rochester. This scholarship supports undergraduates from diverse backgrounds who exhibit financial need, perseverance, and leadership qualities by covering full tuition and expenses for about one percent of each graduating class.

Handler also supports wildlife conservation efforts through involvement with the Wolf Conservation Center, where his wife holds the position of president.

External links

• Official website of Jefferies Group LLC