Blackstone has appointed Franck Petitgas as Senior Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Europe, a newly created role that will see him work with the firm’s leadership on strategic initiatives and senior-level client engagement across the region.

His appointment will take effect in January 2026.

Stephen A. Schwarzman, Blackstone’s Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, said Petitgas brings experience at the highest levels of international finance. Schwarzman noted that his relationships across Europe will support Blackstone as it accelerates its efforts to finance, build, and scale businesses and critical infrastructure.

Petitgas said he is joining a firm he views as “the most consequential firm in investing today,” adding that Blackstone is deploying capital to address major investment needs across Europe. He said he looks forward to strengthening the firm’s focus on supporting growth, innovation, and long-term value creation.

Petitgas spent three decades at Morgan Stanley, where he served on its Operating Committee, co-headed Global Investment Banking, and later led Morgan Stanley International. He retired in 2023 before becoming Chief Business Adviser to then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and in 2024 he joined the UK House of Lords.

Blackstone has been active in Europe for more than 25 years and has invested in more than $350bn of assets in the region across private equity, real estate, credit, and infrastructure. The firm expects to deploy more than $500bn into European opportunities over the next decade as themes such as digitalisation, AI, electrification, and reindustrialisation accelerate.

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