Gast, Perella ‘64 to discuss global economy

	Joseph R. Perella '64

Joseph R. Perella ’64, chairman and CEO of Perella Weinberg Partners, will join Lehigh President Alice P. Gast onstage at the Zoellner Arts Center for an upcoming discussion titled, “The Financial Crisis and Beyond: A Conversation with Joseph R. Perella '64.”
The event, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Zoellner’s Baker Hall.
The Lehigh community can now submit questions for the Q&A session via e-mail at perellaquestions@lehigh.edu.
Paul R. Brown, dean of the College of Business and Economics, will emcee the forum. The hour-long discussion will include ideas on the global economic recovery, and how markets around the world can refocus their efforts during such a turbulent time of transition.
Perella is one of Wall Street’s most revered and respected voices, having managed billions of dollars of mergers and acquisitions activities since the 1970s. He pioneered the development of the mergers and acquisitions industry, having founded and managed First Boston’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group from 1973-1988, and served on the firm’s Management Committee for nine years. In 1988, he co-founded Wasserstein Perella and Co., Inc., and was Chairman of the Board until September 1993.
His next move was to Morgan Stanley in 1993, as Worldwide Head of Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division, and then, Chairman of Institutional Securities and Investment Banking. He became a member of the Firm’s Management Committee in 1993 and was Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley until his resignation in 2005. In 2006, Mr. Perella co-founded Perella Weinberg Partners on the principle that clients and investors need high-quality, independent financial advice provided by individuals who are bright, creative, experienced and loyal.
He brings unique wisdom and perspective about the world’s financial community, Gast says.
“Joe has advised on some of the world’s largest and most noteworthy financial transactions, and has built a well-earned reputation as one of Wall Street’s most influential leaders,” Gast says. “We are honored to have him address the Lehigh community and share his insights about our nation’s long-term financial well-being.”
Since leaving Lehigh with an undergraduate business degree in 1964, he has remained loyal to his alma mater. A dedicated member of the university’s Board of Trustees, Perella and his wife, Amy, have generously donated to name the Perella Department of Finance, and have endowed four Joseph R. Perella and Amy M. Perella Chairs in the College of Business and Economics.
Perella’s visit and forthcoming lecture is the latest opportunity for the Lehigh community to learn more about the turbulent economic environment. For more details about this and other upcoming lectures and developments, please visit Lehigh’s financial crisis Web page.
--Tom Yencho