New York, May 8, 2018 – Blackstone (NYSE:BX) today announced that Sir John Hood will join its board of directors effective May 14, 2018.
Sir John is currently Chair of the Rhodes Trust, which oversees the Rhodes scholarship program, and is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Robertson Foundation. He also serves as director of WPP plc and Aurora Energy Research, and Chairman of BMT Group and Study Group Limited.
Previously, among other positions, Sir John served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Auckland. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly two decades as a senior executive at Fletcher Challenge Limited, where he led two of the major divisions.
Commenting on the appointment, Stephen A. Schwarzman, Blackstone Chairman and CEO, said: “Over his career, Sir John has played a key role in the management and oversight of leading, complex organizations around the globe. He is someone whom I respect enormously, and I look forward to having his wisdom and expertise on our board of directors.”
Jon Gray, Blackstone President and COO, added: “Sir John has an impressive track record helping to guide some of the most well-respected institutions and philanthropic organizations in the world. We look forward to working closely with him and know that the board will benefit from his immense judgment and experience.”
Sir John Hood said: “Blackstone has grown to become a clear leader in the asset management industry and has established a stellar reputation for quality and integrity. I am honored to join Blackstone’s talented board of directors, and look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success.”
Sir John also serves on the boards of the Fletcher Trust, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and the Said Business School Foundation, as well as the advisory board for the African Leadership Academy.
He earned a Bachelor of Engineering and a PhD in Civil Engineering from The University of Auckland. Upon completing his doctorate, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. There he read for an MPhil in Management Studies and was a member of Worcester College. Sir John has been appointed a Knight Companion to the New Zealand Order of Merit.
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