Okonjo-Iweala Becomes Senior Advisor Of Global Financial Advisory Firm

Lazard

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has joined a long list of notable ex-public office holders who have worked for financial advisory and asset management firm, Lazard Limited. The New York headquartered company has hired Okonjo-Iweala as Senior Advisor.

The ex-minister will focus on the firm’s sovereign advisory group, Lazard said in a statement on Monday.

“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has built a remarkable international reputation over more than three decades in leadership positions in government and at the World Bank,” said Kenneth M. Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lazard.

“She will be a strong addition as a Senior Advisor to our firm.”

Also welcoming Okonjo-Iweala, Matthieu Pigasse, Global Head of M&A and Sovereign Advisory of Lazard said: “We are proud to welcome Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as a Senior Advisor to our world-leading sovereign advisory group.”

“She will bring a unique international expertise and experience that will benefit both our sovereign and corporate clients.”

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Honourable Minister of Finance for the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2011 until May 2015. Prior to that, she served as a Managing Director at the World Bank Group for four years. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala held several ministerial positions, notably as Minister of Finance for Nigeria from 2003 to 2006, during which she led the country’s successful debt relief negotiations.

Other notable people working with (or have worked with) Lazard include Marcus Agius, Chairman of Barclays Bank, Božidar Đelić, Former Minister of Finance of Serbia and Bill White – Former mayor of Houston (3 terms) and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy under President Bill Clinton.