Kenneth M. Jacobs
Kenneth M. Jacobs | |
|---|---|
 Kenneth Jacobs in 2023 | |
| Born | September 1958 (age 67) |
| Education | University of Chicago (BA) Stanford University (MBA) |
| Occupation | Senior advisor to Lazard |
| Spouse | Agnès Mentre |
| Children | 3 |
Kenneth M. Jacobs (born September 1958)[1] is an American business executive. He serves as Senior Advisor to the Board of Lazard.[2] Previously, he was the CEO and chairman of Lazard from 2009[3] until September 2023,[4][5] when he became executive chairman.[3]
Biography
[edit]Born in Greenburgh, New York, in September 1958,[1] Jacobs received a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.[6] He joined the financial company Lazard in 1988,[7] and was named a partner in 1991. In 2002 he was named deputy chairman and head of North America for Lazard.[8][9] In this role, he focused on new markets and new practices,[9] for example expanding Lazard’s financial advisory business via acquisitions.[7]
In November 2009, the Lazard board elected Jacobs as chairman and chief executive officer.[10] Lazard announced on May 26, 2023 that Jacobs would transition from CEO and chairman to executive chairman effective October 1, 2023, while continuing to advise clients on financial matters.[6] In November 2024, Lazard announced that Jacobs would further transition to Senior Chairman of the company and Senior Advisor to the Board.[2] As of July 2026, Jacobs no longer holds the title of Senior Chairman and continues to serve as a Senior Advisor to the firm.[2]
In February 2026, Jacobs was appointed to the board of trustees of Vanguard Group.[11] In July 2026, Jacobs was elected non-executive chairman of Vanguard Group's board of directors, effective January 1, 2027.[12][13] He is vice-chair of the both Board of Trustees at the University of Chicago[14] and the board at the Brookings Institution.[15]
Personal life
[edit]Jacobs is married to Agnès Mentre, daughter of French banker and politician, Paul Mentré;[16] she was a former Lazard banker who later became a film producer including such credits as The Wrestler, the Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 9/11,[17] and Wind River. They have two daughters and a son.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Armitage, Jim (2023-07-06). "Lazard's Ken Jacobs: I'm taking the drama out of succession". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
- 1 2 3 "Kenneth M. Jacobs".
- 1 2 Nguyen, Lananh (May 26, 2023). "Lazard names Orszag as CEO, Jacobs to become executive chairman". Reuters.
- ↑ J. de la Merced, Michael (November 17, 2009). "New Leader at Lazard Is an Insider". The New York Times.
- ↑ Lombardo, Cara (May 26, 2023). "Lazard Names Peter Orszag as Next CEO". The Wall Street Journal.
- 1 2 "Lazard Appoints Peter R. Orszag as CEO and Kenneth M. Jacobs as Executive Chairman". Lazard.com. May 26, 2023.
- 1 2 "Captain with a new style for the same game". Financial Times.
- ↑ "Lazard's Jacobs Was Constant Amid 21 Years of Changes". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- 1 2 "Lazard's Model Gaining Traction in the Postcrisis World". Institutional Investor. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ "LAZARD NAMES KENNETH M. JACOBS CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
- ↑ Blumenthal, Jeff (11 February 2026). "Vanguard expands board with 2 new directors". Philadelphia Business Journal.
- ↑ Dilone, Sobeida (24 July 2026). "Vanguard Elects Kenneth Jacobs Chairman of Board as Governance Transition Begins". citybiz.
- ↑ Mikulich, Leah (29 July 2026). "Former Lazard CEO Kenneth Jacobs to Lead Vanguard's Board of Directors". Vista.Today.
- ↑ Dupre, Brandon (24 September 2025). "University of Chicago extends president's contract". Crain's Chicago Business.
- ↑ "Kenneth M. Jacobs".
- ↑ Delanglade, Sabine (21 October 2019). "Kenneth Jacobs. Patron au mérite". Les Echos (in French).
- ↑ Wallace, Charles (November 7, 2011). "Lazard's Model Gaining Traction in the Postcrisis World". Institutional Investor.