Tetsuya Kawano Joins Lazard as Chairman, Japanese Investment Banking Business

Business Wire, Feb 12, 2008

Lazard Continues to Hire Top Investment Banking Talent in the Region

TOKYO -- Lazard Ltd (NYSE: LAZ) announced today that Tetsuya Kawano has joined the firm as Chairman of its Japanese Investment Banking business, effective today. Mr. Kawano, most recently Vice Chairman of JP Morgan Asia Pacific, will be based in Tokyo, and will work alongside Yasu Hatakeyama, President and CEO of Lazard Freres K.K.

"Mr. Kawano is one of the most respected and distinguished investment bankers in Japan," said Charles G. Ward, President of Lazard. "By joining Lazard, he brings further depth and stature to our Japanese investment banking team, and underscores our commitment to the region."

"Lazard has built a reputation over the past 160 years as the preeminent, trusted, and independent advisor focused on helping clients to achieve their strategic goals," said Mr. Kawano. "I am delighted to join the firm and to have the opportunity to work with Hatakeyama-san and the team in Japan and abroad."

"With his breadth of relationships and depth of knowledge and experience, Kawano-san will be a strong addition to our team," said Mr. Hatakeyama. "I am looking forward to working with him as our partner in expanding the Lazard franchise in Japan."

In addition to recruiting Mr. Kawano, Lazard has continued to bolster its investment banking team in Japan under the leadership of Mr. Hatakeyama. The firm recently announced the appointment of Kazuki Kusaka as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Lazard Freres K.K., who joined the firm in August 2007 from Lehman Brothers.

Mr. Kawano, 49, was most recently with JP Morgan from 2002 to 2007 where his responsibilities included Vice Chairman of JP Morgan Asia Pacific and President of JP Morgan Securities Japan. Prior to JP Morgan, Mr. Kawano was with Goldman Sachs (Japan) from 1994 to 2002, where he was Managing Director and Head of the Telecom, Media and Technology group. Mr. Kawano began his investment-banking career with Merrill Lynch in New York in 1986. He received an MBA from Keio University.

About Lazard

Lazard, one of the world's preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms, operates from 35 cities across 17 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. With origins dating back to 1848, the firm provides advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and capital raising, as well as asset management services to corporations, partnerships, institutions, governments, and individuals.

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