David Krap Joins Lazard as Managing Director for European Consumer Sector

Lazard, Inc. recently made headlines with the announcement of David Krap taking on the role of Managing Director and Co-Head of European Consumer, Retail & Leisure. This strategic move, effective immediately, emphasizes Lazard’s commitment to enhancing its advisory capabilities in an ever-evolving market landscape.

With over 20 years of experience in consumer-focused mergers and acquisitions advisory, David comes to Lazard from J.P. Morgan, where he honed his expertise as Managing Director responsible for the Consumer Retail sector across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). His extensive career includes significant positions at distinguished firms such as Credit Suisse, Centerview Partners, and UBS. David holds an honors degree from the European Business School London and speaks both German and Spanish fluently, allowing him to connect with a diverse client base across various regions.

David's arrival at Lazard comes at an exciting time as the firm strengthens its financial advisory practice under the leadership of Jean-Louis Girodolle and Cyrus Kapadia. Lazard's strategy, known as Lazard 2030, aims to expand its senior talent pool and boost its advisory services across its global operations. This appointment highlights Lazard's strategic plans to enhance its service offerings, particularly in the increasingly competitive consumer landscape.

Jean-Louis Girodolle, Co-Head of European Investment Banking, shared, "David is a highly regarded advisor with an exceptional track record of helping boards and management teams navigate complex strategic inflection points and transformative transactions. We are delighted to welcome him to Lazard." His recognition in the industry, particularly among leading businesses in the consumer sector, speaks to his valuable insight and deep relationships that he brings to the firm.

Cyrus Kapadia echoed this sentiment, stating, "David's deep expertise and longstanding relationships will further strengthen our franchise as we continue to invest in our European platform and enhance our capabilities for clients." The acknowledgment of David's skills and experience to assist industry leaders aligns with Lazard’s objective of providing top-tier advisory services.

In expressing his enthusiasm for this new chapter, David Krap commented, "I have long admired Lazard's advisory-led, partnership-oriented model and the strength of its presence and connectivity across Europe and North America. I am a firm believer in the ambitions of the Lazard 2030 strategy and the growth the firm is working to achieve. I look forward to joining Lazard's talented team, helping to shape and scale its global consumer franchise.”

Founded in 1848, Lazard stands as a premier financial advisory and asset management firm. With its reach extending across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, Lazard offers advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, capital markets support, restructuring, and an array of strategic matters all while providing asset management services. With Lazard publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker LAZ, this latest executive appointment signals not just growth but a strategic plan to adapt to the changing demands of the market.

As the consumer, retail, and leisure sectors undergo rapid transformations, Lazard’s proactive approach in bringing on seasoned professionals like David Krap exemplifies the firm’s commitment to maintaining its leadership position in financial advisory services. Through dedicated efforts, Lazard is well-positioned to navigate the complexities that lie ahead while providing unmatched value to its clients.