News & Analysis

Sard hires Blackstone’s Peter Rose

The communications firm has hired a once-retired Blackstone managing director as vice chairman.

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Sard Verbinnen & Company  has hired Peter Rose in the new position of vice chairman, the communications firm said in a statement. 

He was previously a senior managing director and global head of public affairs for  Blackstone  from 2007 until his retirement earlier this year. 

At Blackstone, Rose oversaw global media relations, in addition to responsibilities in government relations, internal communications and branding. Prior to Blackstone, Rose was at Goldman Sachs for 20 years in a variety of senior positions in government and media relations in Washington DC, New York and Hong Kong. He was also chief of staff to Congressman Mike Synar and a partner at law firm Williams and Jensen, according to the statement. 

Sard Verbinnen's clients have included Advent International, CCMP Capital Advisors, Oaktree Capital Management, Providence Equity Partners, Spectrum Equity, Tailwind Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners, among others.        

Sard Verbinnen is also in talks to sell 40 percent stake in the firm for $60 million to San Francisco-based  Golden Gate Capital  , one of its clients, according to a report from The New York Times. Sard was not available to confirm.

Under the proposed agreement Golden Gate will value Sard Verbinnen at roughly $150 million. The investments would allow Sard Verbinnen to expand with new offices in Washington DC, Hong Kong and Houston, and offer more robust political communications, research and video production. The deal would also allow the firm's founders Sard and Verbinnen to cash in on their 60 percent ownership of the company, with shares valued at a combined $90 million, according to The New York Times  report  .

Sard Verbinnen, founded in 1992, provides communications advice and services to help clients manage overall positioning and specific events affecting reputations and market value. The firm has offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and London. Clients also include multinational corporations, smaller public and private companies, investment firms, professional services firms, educational and cultural institutions, and high-profile individuals.