Joseph R. Perella ’64 to deliver commencement address
Investment banking legend Joseph R. Perella ’64, founding partner and chairman of Perella Weinberg Partners, will deliver the address at Lehigh University’s 148th commencement on Monday, May 23rd, 2016.
Widely regarded as an investment banking pioneer who has advised on billions of dollars of M&A (Merger and Acquisition) activity throughout his long career, the Lehigh trustee is one of Wall Street’s most revered and respected voices. Perella earned a reputation as the “Gentleman of Wall Street” and is well-regarded for his integrity, trustworthiness and character.
His investment banking experience includes strategic assignments for leading companies in virtually every industry and region of the world.
“His influence in the world of finance and investment banking is immeasurable, and he has improved countless lives through his philanthropic work,” said Lehigh President John Simon. “I’m sure that our graduates and their families will be inspired by his extraordinarily successful career, as well as his accomplishments and legacy beyond Wall Street.”
Given the major milestone of Lehigh’s 150th, Simon said it was particularly important to have a Lehigh alum deliver the commencement message through the Lehigh lens. “I can think of no one more deserving to do this than Joe Perella, whose life and career have been guided by his strong values and commitment to excellence,” he said.
Student Senate President Anna D’Ginto ’16 said she is “thrilled that Joe Perella will be our commencement speaker.”
As a leader in business and philanthropy, D’Ginto said that Perella is also “renowned for his character and integrity, and I’m excited to hear what insights he will share with the students and families of the class of 2016.
“All students at Lehigh have been touched by the generous donations of the Perella family, from taking a class in the finance department to sitting for an exam in Perella Auditorium. As we celebrate Lehigh's 150th anniversary, I can't think of a better way for the Class of 2016 to commemorate this special moment than hearing from one of our most respected, accomplished alumni."
A legacy of accomplishment
Perella served as chief executive officer of Perella Weinberg Partners from formation in 2006 to June 2014. Prior to founding Perella Weinberg Partners, he was a member of Morgan Stanley's Management Committee and held several senior positions at Morgan Stanley, including vice chairman, chairman of Institutional Securities and Investment Banking, and worldwide head of the Investment Banking Division. In 1988, Mr. Perella co-founded Wasserstein Perella & Co., Inc. and was Chairman of the Board until September 1993. From 1972 to 1988, he held senior positions at First Boston and was the founder of its Mergers & Acquisitions Group. His investment banking experience of more than 40 years includes strategic assignments for leading companies in virtually every industry and region of the world.
Perella earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Lehigh, and went on to earn his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
A long-standing and generous supporter of Lehigh, Perella has frequently shared his expertise and insights through various events for the university, including a panel discussion on “Creating Investor Value” that preceded the historic 150th Rivalry game in New York City in 2014. That panel was moderated by fellow alum and Bloomberg Television anchor Stephanie Ruhle ’97, and included Barry Rosenstein ’81 and Mark Neporent ’79 as panelists.
On October 22nd, Perella returned to Lehigh for a special screening of the documentary that shares the untold saga of Italians who risked their lives rescuing Jews and other refugees who fled the Nazis in World War II. As executive producer of the film “My Italian Secret,” he introduced the documentary screening, which was followed by a panel discussion with those involved in the production of the documentary, including the award-winning director Oren Jacoby.
His role as executive producer of this film is further evidence of the pride he takes in his Italian-American heritage. Both his grandfather and father immigrated to the United States from Italy. His grandfather was a blacksmith by trade who became a chef after his arrival, and his father came to America in 1938 after earning his doctorate degree in economics.
In 2013, Perella led the 69th Annual Columbus Day Parade in New York City up Fifth Avenue, which included 35,000 marchers and an estimated one million spectators from around the world. As grand marshal of the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture and achievement, he followed in the footsteps of fellow Lehigh alum and former Chrysler Corporation chair Lee Iacocca ’45, who served as grand marshal in 1982.
“On Columbus Day, we celebrate Italian-American heritage and culture as one of the many facets that has made our great, diverse country a robust, ever-evolving land of freedom and opportunity,” Perella said at the parade announcement.
Loyalty to Lehigh
Perella’s generous and unwavering support of Lehigh is evidenced through initiatives that include the Financial Services Lab in the College of Business and Economics (CBE) that was named in his honor, and the 2003 endowment of the Perella Department of Finance. With his wife, he established the college’s four Joseph R. Perella and Amy M. Perella Chairs. Designed to help the college attract and retain leading faculty, the Perella Chairs are awarded to faculty who can add to the publication and research exposure of the college, as well as create innovative academic offerings and enhance faculty leadership.
At the time of their creation, Perella said his decision to endow the chairs is based on his strong belief that the university owes it to its students to attract and retain researchers and educators who are at the top of their fields.
“Lehigh has a long and proud tradition of educating tomorrow’s leaders and conducting research that matters,” Perella says. “It all starts with having innovative faculty who are leaders in their research fields and who bring a true passion for teaching.”
The Perellas also established an endowed scholarship fund for Lehigh students from the Newark, N.J. area, where Perella grew up, and supported the construction of the Rauch Business Center, in which the largest auditorium is now named in their honor. The Perellas are members of the Asa Packer Society, Tower Society, and Leadership Plaza.
He continues to serve on the university’s Board of Trustees, was an honorary co-chair of the Shine Forever campaign, and is an avid follower of Lehigh wrestling. In 2006, he received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. In 2004, Perella received the “L-in-Life” Award from the Lehigh New York City Alumni Club. The award recognizes alumni for outstanding achievements in business and professional life and for continued devotion and loyal service to the university.
Perella and his wife are also generous supporters of education, the arts and human services, including the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund for military personnel and their families, of which he is a trustee. He is a director of the American Italian Cancer Foundation; The Atlantic Salmon Federation; Boys & Girls Harbor, Inc.; Foundation for Italian Art and Culture; Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.; Japan Society; and the Italy and the Holocaust Foundation. Perella is an advisory director of the board of the Metropolitan Opera Association, and a member of the Director's Advisory Board for the Yale Cancer Center. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, The Brookings Institute, and is a former member of the Business Roundtable.
Posted on:
Friday, February 05, 2016
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