Lazard Appoints Michele Colocci as Vice Chairman & MD

Lazard, the investment bank, has announced the appointment of seasoned healthcare dealmaker Michele Colocci as Vice Chairman and Managing Director, with the aim of enhancing the growth of its healthcare advisory services.

Colocci, formerly the Chairman of Mergers and Acquisitions at Morgan Stanley, where he also served as Global Co-Head of Healthcare Investment Banking and Deputy Head of Investment Banking for Europe, is scheduled to join Lazard in June.

Based in London, Colocci will assume a newly created global role within the firm. He will be integrated into Lazard’s healthcare franchise, led by David Gluckman and overseen in Europe by Jean-Louis Girodolle and Cyrus Kapadia.

Peter R. Orszag, CEO of Lazard, expressed confidence in Colocci’s appointment, emphasising his track record as a trusted advisor to clients and highlighting the significant value he brings to Lazard’s European business.

The healthcare sector continues to be a major player in dealmaking, constituting 10.2% of total deals in 2024, as per LSEG data. Anticipated robust deal activity in the sector is driven by increasing demand for services and drugs from an ageing population, along with a thriving market for weight-loss medications.

Pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in expanding the production of new weight-loss drugs, which is benefiting contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs). For instance, Novo Holdings announced its $16.5 billion acquisition of Catalent in February to bolster the output of its popular obesity drug, Wegovy.