Kenneth M. Jacobs

Kenneth M. Jacobs is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lazard. Mr. Jacobs has led Lazard since November 2009. Prior to becoming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he was a Deputy Chairman of the firm and Chief Executive Officer of Lazard North America since 2002.

He joined Lazard in 1988 after beginning his career at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Jacobs has been instrumental in shaping Lazard’s strategy since its initial public offering in 2005, a transformational event after more than 150 years of private ownership. He has expanded and diversified the firm’s global financial advisory and asset management services, geographically and by practice areas. He continues to drive innovation at the firm to enhance its competitive edge in a rapidly changing marketplace, including major initiatives around workplace and engagement, diversity and inclusion, and the application of new technology to the firm’s advice-based business model. He remains active in advising Lazard clients, and has participated in landmark transactions across a variety of industries.

Mr. Jacobs earned a B.A. in economics from The University of Chicago in 1980 and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1984. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Brookings Institution and of the University of Chicago, and is a Director of the Partnership for New York City. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2017, he was inducted into the French Legion of Honor.