Joseph Baratta


Joseph Baratta is Global Head of Private Equity at Blackstone, a New York-based global asset management giant.

Early life

Born in Sacramento, California, Baratta attended Georgetown University, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1993.

Career

Baratta joined Blackstone in 1998. He moved to London in 2001 to establish Blackstone’s private equity business in Europe. In 2004 he became a Senior Managing Director of the firm and Head of European Private Equity in 2010. In July 2012 he was named the Global Head of Private Equity.
He has led some of Blackstone’s most successful investments like SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Merlin Entertainments, Center Parcs and Southern Cross. Before joining Blackstone, Baratta worked for investment firms Tinicum Incorporated and McCown De Leeuw & Company. He also worked in the mergers and acquisitions department at Morgan Stanley.
In 2012, Baratta was listed in Forbes “Top 50 Dealmakers” list.
Baratta currently serves as a Director of Merlin Entertainments and Sea World Parks and Entertainment. He has previously served on the boards of ICS Group, Tragus Group, Center Parcs, Universal Orlando, Nycomed Holding ApS, Spirit Group and Southern Cross.
He serves on the Advisory Board of the McDonough School of Business. He also sits on the Board of Regents at Georgetown University, his alma mater.

Philanthropy

He is a Trustee of the Private Equity Foundation, that provides affordable capital to socially oriented financial organizations and offers pro bono business expertise to youth and children’s charities and increase education, employment and training among the youth.