Blackstone has announced the appointment of Franck Petitgas as senior managing director and vice chairman for Europe.
Petitgas will join the alternatives manager, which has over $350bn (£266bn) of assets in Europe, in January 2026 and will focus on engaging with clients and business leaders across the region.
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The appointment comes as Blackstone plans to invest over $500bn in European assets in the next decade, driven by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, electrification and reindustrialisation.
“I believe Blackstone is the most consequential firm in investing today, deploying capital to address some of the region’s most critical investment needs,” said Petitgas. “I’m thrilled to join this outstanding team to help strengthen its commitment to Europe, supporting growth, innovation, and long-term value creation across the region.”
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Prior to joining Blackstone, Petitgas spent 30 years at Morgan Stanley, where he was a member of the firm’s operating committee and co-head of global investment banking before serving as head of Morgan Stanley International.
Following his retirement from Morgan Stanley in 2023, he was appointed by then UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as chief business adviser. In March 2024, he was appointed to the House of Lords.
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