John Studzinski CBE is an investment banker and the global head of the Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory group at The Blackstone Group.

Before joining Blackstone in 2006, he was a member of the Group Management Board and co-head of investment banking at HSBC based in London from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, among other roles, he was the deputy chairman of Morgan Stanley International.

He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1978 with a double BA Degree Magna Cum Laude in Biology and Sociology. He received an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1980 in Finance and Marketing.

He is vice-chair and director of Human Rights Watch where he serves on the Executive Committee as well as chairman of the Investment Committee. He also serves as a trustee of Bowdoin College, The Passage Day Centre for the Homeless and The Royal Parks Foundation. He is a member of the Council of The Royal College of Art and is chair of the Emmaus Revives Lives campaign. He is chairman of Benjamin Franklin House. In 2001, he established the Genesis Foundation, which supports and nurtures emerging composers, directors, writers and actors into sustained careers in the arts.

John was made a Knight of the Order of St Gregory for his humanitarian work for the homeless. He was also made a Knight Commander of St Sylvester. He received the Prince of Wales Ambassador’s Award in recognition of his contribution to the homeless. He received the Beacon Prize in 2004 for services to philanthropy and in October 2007 was voted Banker of the Year by the Variety Club UK. He received a CBE in 2008 for his services to the arts and charity.