Mike De Stefano has assumed the role of CEO of Lancaster, PA-based RKL, an INSIDE Public Accounting top 100 firm, effective Sept. 1.
He succeeds Ed Monborne, who served as RKL’s CEO for 15 years. The change at the top is part of the firm’s planned leadership transition.
Elected by the firm’s partners, De Stefano brings a wealth of experience in firm strategy and operations to the role. He began his career in public accounting at RKL in 1995, serving in the firm’s tax and audit services groups for 14 years.
After leaving the firm to join a petroleum wholesale and logistics company as controller and eventually CFO and vice president of finance, De Stefano returned to RKL in 2019 as CFO and became chief operating officer in 2022. As part of the planned leadership transition, Rachel Sargent took over as the firm’s COO in August 2025.
De Stefano has been named among Central Penn Business Journal’s Leaders in Business and Finance, Power List for Banking, Finance, and Wealth Management, and among the region’s 300 most influential leaders.
“I’m excited for this next chapter for RKL,” De Stefano said in a statement on Aug. 31. “We remain focused on delivering the client service, trusted advice, and deep expertise our clients count on while continuing to build on the firm’s strong momentum.”
After beginning his career at Big Four accounting firms KPMG and PwC, Monborne joined RKL in 1994, according to his LinkedIn profile, and took over as CEO in 2011.
During Monborne’s tenure, RKL experienced significant growth, expanding from a regional accounting firm into a top 100 accounting and advisory firm serving clients across the U.S. and internationally. Monborne will retire in December.
“My confidence in Mike began over two decades ago during his first tenure with the firm,” Monborne said in a statement. “Welcoming him back as CFO and then COO has undoubtedly made our firm stronger and more future-ready, and I can’t wait to see how the firm continues to grow and thrive under his leadership.”
Photo caption: New RKL CEO Mike De Stefano
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Tags: Accounting, accounting firms, ceo, ceos, Ed Monborne, Firm Management, Mike De Stefano, RKL
