Lazard Asset Management (LAM) has named Jennifer Ryan as Managing Director and Head of North American Distribution. Based in New York, Ryan joins from BlackRock where she held leadership roles in both its US and UK Institutional Client Businesses.

In the newly created position, Ryan reports to LAM CEO Evan Russo. Ryan’s responsibilities include the firm’s North American business development efforts, and oversee Lazard’s institutional client group, financial institutions group, alternative investment sales and consultant relations group.

“Jen brings to Lazard over 25 years of experience in the asset management industry. She has a deep understanding of the North American market, the trends that are driving its evolution, and the strategies needed to grow and develop both our intermediary and institutional client businesses,” said Russo.

Ryan previously spent 19 years at Goldman Sachs Asset Management in several key client-facing roles, including Head of US Consultant Relations, Co-Head of Endowments and Foundations and Head of New York Bank Intermediary Sales.

LAM and affiliated asset management companies in the Lazard Group managed $216 billion in client assets as of the end of 2022.