Roger Altman
USA- Early Life and Education
- Career in Investment Banking
- BlackStone Group and Deputy Treasury Secretary
- Evercore Partners and Controversies
- Political Consulting and Bilderberg Group
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Roger Altman was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, to a librarian mother and a food broker father. Raised in the Catholic faith, he earned his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.
Career in Investment Banking
Altman began his career at Lehman Brothers from 1974 to 1977. From 1977 to 1981, he served as an assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury, where he notably worked on resolving the Chrysler crisis.
Returning to Lehman Brothers in 1981, Altman became a managing director and head of the investment banking group. He also served on the board of directors and executive committee. During the 1980s, Altman lectured and became an adjunct professor at Yale School of Management.
BlackStone Group and Deputy Treasury Secretary
In 1987, Altman joined the newly formed Blackstone Group as a vice chairman. He oversaw mergers and acquisitions, financial advisory, and private equity investments.
In 1993, Altman was appointed Deputy Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton. He resigned in 1994 amid controversy over his handling of sensitive financial records.
Evercore Partners and Controversies
Instead of returning to Blackstone, Altman founded Evercore Partners in 1996. The New York-based firm specializes in private equity and financial advisory services. One notable project involved General Motors, which paid Evercore $46 million before its bankruptcy and later requested an additional $17.9 million as a "success fee." The bankruptcy trustee called the fee "exorbitant" and "grossly excessive," claiming that Evercore failed to find buyers or additional debt financing.
Evercore has also faced other controversies, including a 2014 conviction of former banker Perkins Hixon for insider trading related to the firm's stock.
Political Consulting and Bilderberg Group
Altman has twice served as an advisor to presidential candidates: John Kerry in 2004 and Hillary Clinton in 2008. However, neither candidate was successful in their respective elections.
Altman is known for his membership on the steering committee of the secretive Bilderberg Group. The group comprises prominent figures from business and politics who meet annually in private to discuss global issues. Altman attended the Bilderberg conference in Greece in 2009.
