The Blackstone Group has announced that experienced company executive Gerry Murphy, will join the firm’s private equity team as a senior managing director, based in London to focus princip
The Blackstone Group has announced that experienced company executive Gerry Murphy, will join the firm’s private equity team as a senior managing director, based in London to focus principally on supporting Blackstone’s portfolio companies across Europe and Asia.
Before joining Blackstone, Gerry Murphy spent five years as chief executive of Kingfisher, where he was responsible for the demerger of KESA Electricals and the integration of Castorama into the group.
He has also served as chief executive of Carlton Communications, Exel and Greencore, and is currently a non-executive director at Reckitt Benckiser. Earlier in his career, he held various senior positions in research and development, operations, marketing, corporate development and general management with Grand Metropolitan (now Diageo) in Ireland, the UK and the US.
‘We are delighted to welcome Gerry to the firm,’ says Blackstone Group president Tony James. ‘With more than 16 years experience as chief executive of major international companies, including managing turnarounds, overseeing acquisitions, disposals, public demergers and managing thousands of staff, Gerry is well placed to work with our portfolio companies and their chief executives. He brings a unique expertise to Blackstone and will be an invaluable resource.’
The Blackstone Group is one of the largest independent alternative asset managers in the world with businesses include the management of corporate private equity funds, real estate opportunity funds, funds of hedge funds, mezzanine funds, senior debt funds, proprietary hedge funds and closed-end mutual funds, as well as financial advisory services including mergers and acquisitions advisory, restructuring and reorganisation advisory and fund placement services.
