NEWYORK
Joseph Baratta, Blackstone Inc.'s head of private equity strategies, is in discussions to depart the firm by year-end after 28 years. Baratta led Blackstone's private equity business for approximately 13 years before moving to his current role last year.
Baratta is a longtime architect of Blackstone's flagship buyout fund and sits on the firm's Board of Directors and Management Committee. His departure represents a material loss of institutional knowledge and deal-making credibility at a firm where private equity remains core to shareholder returns.
Baratta joined Blackstone in 1998 and moved to London in 2001 to establish the firm's European private equity operations. He became Senior Managing Director in 2004 and Head of European Private Equity in 2010. He is also a member of multiple Blackstone investment committees overseeing capital allocation decisions.
The exit follows other key leadership resignations over the past year. Nadeem Meghji, Blackstone's real estate head, and Jon Korngold, head of growth strategy, both departed the company.
