Hightower names Roberto Stewart as president and chief business officer

Hightower has appointed Roberto Stewart as president and chief business officer, effective immediately, adding a veteran operating executive with more than 30 years of experience to lead enterprise services and advance the firm's platform for advisors.

Stewart's primary mandate centers on Hightower One, the firm's back- and middle-office platform, with a focus on reducing operational friction and reinforcing the infrastructure supporting client service and growth. He will oversee operations, technology, risk, product, project management, and integrations.

In a Tuesday statement revealing the new C-level hire, Hightower CEO Larry Restieri described Stewart as "a proven leader who knows how to simplify complexity and build platforms that drive long-term value."

Restieri said Stewart's background in scaling complex organizations will be "critical as we continue to evolve Hightower One, reduce barriers for advisors, and support continued expansion across the platform."

Hightower's newly installed president most recently served as chief operating officer at Engle Martin, a portfolio company of BW Forsyth Partners, where he led several of the firm's largest business units and managed enterprise operations across a global, multi-entity organization. His experience there included acquisition integration and building scalable infrastructure.

Before that, Stewart spent more than a decade at American International Group, leading global administration and client services and holding roles within the insurer's high-net-worth Private Client Group. Earlier in his career, he held positions of increasing responsibility at McKinsey & Company and Allstate.

Stewart said his focus will be "on creating greater clarity, efficiency, and alignment across Hightower One, enabling advisors to spend more time with clients and grow their practices."

His arrival effectively displaces Gurinder Ahluwalia, who had stepped in as president in 2024 and was described as "interim president" in Tuesday's announcement. Ahluwalia will continue as an advisor to the firm and retain his seat on Hightower's board of directors.

The appointment adds to a recent run of executive-level hiring at the Chicago-based mega-RIA. In January, Hightower brought on Edelman Alum Bob Lavigne as chief compliance officer for Hightower Holdings, tasking him with overseeing the firm's enterprise-wide compliance program and regulatory strategy.

Stewart also arrives as Hightower continues to scale its Hightower Signature Wealth platform, a W-2-based advisory model launched in October last year that operates as a distinct channel from the firm's traditional independent RIA affiliate network.

Last week, the firm added Lexington Wealth Management – a Massachusetts-based RIA with approximately $3.2 billion in assets under management – as the second outside firm to join Signature Wealth in as many months. Once that deal closes, the platform is expected to surpass $29 billion in assets under management across more than 25 locations.

Hightower's broader platform encompasses 652 advisors across 33 states and Washington, D.C., with roughly $352 billion in assets under management as of Dec. 31.