The Blackstone Group has announced that former French diplomat and foreign ministry official Gérard Errera will join the firm as a special adviser on 1 April 2009.
The Blackstone Group has announced that former French diplomat and foreign ministry official Gérard Errera will join the firm as a special adviser on 1 April 2009.
Based in Paris, he will sit on Blackstone’s international advisory board.
Errera (pictured) will focus principally on developing business initiatives and advising on transaction opportunities in each of Blackstone’s key businesses in France and in the rest of Continental Europe, and will also be available to assist advisory clients.
Tony James, president and chief operating officer at Blackstone, says: ‘This appointment underscores Blackstone’s commitment to the French market. We’re delighted to have someone of Mr Errera’s stature join us and further strengthen our team with his international experience, strategic thinking and longstanding relationship with the global business sector at a crucial time in the world economy.’
Errera has spent the last two years as secretary general of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and prior to this was the French ambassador to the UK for five years. He also served as the French ambassador to Nato and director general for political affairs.
Before that he was director for international affairs at the French Atomic Energy Commission and governor for France at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
He is currently a member of the board of EDF and Areva.
Errera says: ‘I am proud to join Blackstone, a leading player in the global economy. I look forward to working with a great team of people to develop opportunities in France and throughout Europe across the whole range of activities in which they operate.’
