Joe Baratta to Head Global Private Equity For Blackstone

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blackstone (NYSE:BX) today announced that Joe Baratta will become head of global private equity for the firm. Joe currently heads the private equity team in Europe and is a member of the firm's Executive Committee. He will also join the firm’s Management Committee. Joe will be based in New York from September.

Commenting on the appointment, Tony James, Blackstone’s President, said: “Joe Baratta embodies the best of Blackstone – high integrity, strong investment acumen, a focus on the needs of our limited partners and a great developer of talent. He has been a key part of the leadership team at Blackstone and I look forward to having him broaden his role within the private equity group.”

Joe joined Blackstone in 1998 in its private equity business. In 2001, he moved to London to help open our office there and establish our European private equity business. Over the years, Joe has led some of Blackstone’s largest and most successful investments, both in Europe and the United States. These include SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Merlin Entertainments Group, Center Parcs and Spirit Group. Joe is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he sits on the Board of Regents.

Blackstone’s private equity group comprises 129 professionals in New York, London, Germany, Mumbai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. It currently has $47 billion in assets under management. If its 73 investments and pending transactions were combined, it would represent $117 billion of revenues and approximately 703,000 employees, or the equivalent of what would be the 13th largest company by revenue among the Fortune 500 in 2012. Blackstone Capital Partners VI, Blackstone’s latest private equity fund, closed in January of this year with over $16 billion to invest. It is expected that it will be the largest fund of its size raised for the next several years.

About Blackstone

Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment and advisory firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, the companies we advise and the broader global economy. We do this through the commitment of our extraordinary people and flexible capital. Our alternative asset management businesses include the management of private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge fund solutions, credit-oriented funds and closed-end mutual funds. The Blackstone Group also provides various financial advisory services, including financial and strategic advisory, restructuring and reorganization advisory and fund placement services. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow us on twitter @blackstone.