Last evening funeral service publication Connecting Directors reported that Park Lawn Corporation made leadership changes earlier in the week that included the replacement of Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Hay and Chief Operating Officer Mat Forastiere.

Again according to Connecting Directors, Markus Sturm was named to step into the role as CEO of Park Lawn Corporation.  Sturm, who we believe joined Park Lawn Corporation in 2025, has apparently been the Chief Financial Officer of the company since that time.  According to his biography on “The Official Board“, he was previously Senior Vice-President of Finance and Corporate Development at Restaurant Brands International.

The report also indicated that Steve Shaffer, President, CEO, and Board Chair of Homesteaders Life Company will take on the role of Executive Chairman and “will work along Regional Vice-Presidents to manage field operations”.

Funeral Director Daily will report more on this story as we receive information including any official press release from Park Lawn Corporation.

Here is the website of Park Lawn Corporation.

Transitioning from Public to Private — Park Lawn Corporation was a public company that in 2024 was taken private by a group that included private equity company Birch Hill Equity Partners and preneed insurer Homesteaders Life Company.  Here is a Funeral Director Daily article on that transaction that was named the Funeral Director Daily “Business Story of the Year” for 2024.

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Oklahoma lawmakers consider legalizing “human composting” as residents raise concerns.  Video news story and print article.  Fox 23 News – Tulsa (OK)
• How the Civil War created the modern American funeral industry.  Yahoo Life
• Attorney General James announces indictment of unlicensed funeral director for illegally performing funeral services and defrauding mourning families.  Office of the Attorney General (NY)

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