# Tether Chief Investment Officer Richard Heathcote Steps Down

*Author: Jack Inabinet*
*Published: Mar 13, 2026*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/news/te*

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Tether's executive leadership team is getting reshuffled. The stablecoin issuer announced yesterday that CIO Richard Heathcote is stepping down and will be replaced by his deputy, Zachary Lyons.

### What's the Scoop?
- **CIO Steps Down:** Tether Holdings SA Chief Investment Officer Richard Heathcote is stepping down for personal reasons, according to a [company release](https://tether.io/news/tether-names-zachary-lyons-as-cio-richard-heathcote-transitions-to-advisory-role-after-guiding-investment-expansion/). During his tenure, Heathcote oversaw the firm's multi-billion dollar investment portfolio, including its stablecoin reserves and expansive venture portfolio. Heathcote will give up day-to-day responsibilities, but remain engaged with Tether in a non-executive, advisory capacity.
- **Deputy Steps Up:** Zachary Lyons, who has worked closely alongside Heathcote as deputy CIO, will assume the role of Chief Investment Officer. Tether's release did not indicate how long Lyons had been employed by the firm, and a LinkedIn profile or other detailed public record of his career could not be readily located.
[Tether Names Zachary Lyons as CIO; Richard Heathcote Transitions to Advisory Role After Guiding Investment Expansion - Tether.ioTether today announced a transition within its investment leadership. Chief Investment Officer Richard Heathcote, who has played a central role in shaping Tether’s investment strategy during a period of extraordinary growth, will be stepping back from his day-to-day responsibilities to focus on personal and family priorities. Richard has been one of the driving forces behind […]![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-726.png)Tether.io![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/image-281.png)](https://tether.io/news/tether-names-zachary-lyons-as-cio-richard-heathcote-transitions-to-advisory-role-after-guiding-investment-expansion/)
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