Meet Blackstone's Private Equity Operating Group
An inside look at the skills and career paths of Blackstone's top operating executives.
Blackstone is the largest private equity firm globally, having raised $126.5 billion for private market investments over the last five years, according to Private Equity International. Similar to various mega-funds, Blackstone has been broadening its portfolio operations team in recent years to enhance the performance of its portfolio companies (portcos). Blackstone’s portfolio team comprises 40% of all Managing Directors within the firm’s private equity group.
This private equity operating team profile examines the experience and expertise that Blackstone seeks in its operating partners.
Composed of 8 Senior Managing Directors and 21 Managing Directors, the majority of Blackstone's operating leaders are based out of the company’s headquarters in New York.
In terms of career trajectories, the most common path to the role of Managing Director within Blackstone’s portfolio operations team involves an average of 16 years of industry experience; 19 out of 27 senior leaders in Blackstone’s operating team have followed this path. Among these 19 Managing Directors who transitioned from industry roles, 16 have experience in Fortune 500 companies like SAP, General Electric, Salesforce, and Unilever. Blackstone typically recruits high-ranking individuals from various industries, with eight having held C-suite positions and another eight maintaining VP- or GM-level roles.
