Blackstone Adds Focus to Portfolio Company Monitoring

New York – The Blackstone Group announced today the appointment of James A. Quella as Senior Managing Director responsible for monitoring the strategy and operational performance of Blackstone’s private equity portfolio companies. He will also serve on Blackstone’s private equity investment committee

Mr. Quella joins Blackstone from DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and CSFB Private Equity where he was Managing Director and Senior Operating Partner. Prior to that he served as a senior consultant to CEOs and senior management teams with Mercer Management Consulting and its predecessor firm, Strategic Planning Associates.

Stephen A. Schwarzman, President and CEO of The Blackstone Group said, “With the dramatic growth in both the number and size of our private equity portfolio companies, it was becoming increasingly important to formalize our process of monitoring both the strategy and the performance of these entities. We are delighted to have found someone of the caliber and experience of James Quella to help us focus on providing added value for our portfolio companies, for Blackstone and, most importantly, for our investors.”

James Quella remarked, “I am delighted to be working for a firm that has such an outstanding reputation as Blackstone, and to be working with some of the best and brightest people in the private equity business.”

Mr. Quella is co-author of “Profit Patterns: 30 Ways to Anticipate and Profit from the Strategic Forces Reshaping Your Business.” He has been a member of various private equity company boards.