Blackstone appoints Franck Petitgas to lead European strategy

Global asset manager Blackstone announced that Franck Petitgas will join their firm in January 2026 as a senior managing director and vice chairman for Europe. 

Blackstone

This new role will see Lord Petitgas collaborating with Blackstone's leadership on strategic initiatives and engaging with key clients and business leaders throughout Europe.
Lord Petitgas brings extensive experience, having spent three decades at Morgan Stanley. There, he held positions such as a member of the Operating Committee and co-head of Global Investment Banking, eventually becoming head of Morgan Stanley International before his retirement in early 2023. 
Following this, he served as chief business adviser to then-UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and was appointed to the UK House of Lords in March 2024.
Stephen A. Schwarzman, co-founder, chairman and CEO, said: “We are excited to welcome Franck to Blackstone. His experience at the highest levels of international finance and strong relationships across Europe will deepen our engagement in the region as we accelerate efforts to finance, build, and scale great businesses and critical infrastructure.”
 Franck Petitgas added: “I believe Blackstone is the most consequential firm in investing today, deploying capital to address some of the region’s most critical investment needs. I’m thrilled to join this outstanding team to help strengthen its commitment to Europe – supporting growth, innovation, and long-term value creation across the region.”
Blackstone currently holds over $350 bn (€301 bn) in European assets across private equity, real estate, credit, and infrastructure. The firm aims to invest an additional $500 billion in European assets over the next ten years, driven by trends such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, electrification, and reindustrialisation.