The External Relations and Strategy Group is headed by Joan Solotar, who sits on the firm’s Management and Executive Committees and plays a role in driving strategic initiatives across the firm. The Group has primary responsibility for setting the strategy for shareholder, media and government relations and the Blackstone Foundation, including communicating and maintaining relationships with several constituents. These range from unit holders and the research analysts who cover Blackstone for major financial institutions to the media and Federal, State and local Government officials to not-for-profit organizations around the world. The team is responsible for the firm’s social media presence, including Facebook, Twitter, blogs and Blackstone’s internal and external website. It drives communications to and amongst our employees and manages all aspects of the firm’s brand. The Group runs the Blackstone Charitable Foundation which is focused on job creation and entrepreneurship and also facilitates employee volunteer and intermural activities globally.