FAQs about Peter Orszag
Peter Orszag is a respected global business leader serving as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Lazard. Also known for his service as Director of both the Office of Management and Budget and the Congressional Budget Office, he has built a career at the intersection of business, economic, and public policy leadership.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about his background, career, and personal life.
Who is Peter Orszag?
Peter Orszag is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Lazard, a leading global financial advisory and asset management firm. He has built a distinguished career across business, finance, public policy and government service, and academia, known for his leadership in both the private and public sectors.
What was Peter Lazard’s role in the Obama administration?
In the Obama administration, Peter Orszag served as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2009 to 2010, where he helped guide the nation’s fiscal strategy during the economic recovery and served as a key architect of the Affordable Care Act. Before that, he led the Congressional Budget Office, playing a central role in shaping policy analysis and budget planning.
How long has Peter Orszag been CEO of Lazard?
Peter Orszag became CEO of Lazard in October 2023. Prior to this, he led Lazard’s Financial Advisory business, overseeing global advisory work for corporations and governments. His leadership continues to guide the firm’s growth and global strategy.
What was Peter known for in government?
Peter Orszag is best known in government for his leadership in fiscal policy and healthcare reform analysis. As Director of both the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget, he was recognized for strengthening policy evaluation and providing critical guidance during a time of economic challenge.
Where did Peter Orszag go to college?
Peter Orszag graduated with high honors from Phillips Exeter Academy before earning an A.B. in economics from Princeton University in 1991, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
His senior thesis focused on congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve, showing an early interest in fiscal and monetary policy. As a Marshall Scholar, he continued his studies at the London School of Economics, where he earned both an M.Sc. in 1992 and a Ph.D. in economics in 1997.
Is Peter Orszag a Democrat?
Yes. Peter Orszag has served in senior economic policy roles under Democratic administrations, including President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama. In the Clinton administration, he advised on economic policy at the Council of Economic Advisers and in the White House, and later, under Obama, he directed both the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget. His work has consistently focused on pragmatic, evidence-based approaches to fiscal and economic policy.
Who is Peter Orszag married to?
Peter Orszag is married to journalist Bianna Golodryga, a senior global affairs analyst and correspondent with CNN. She is an experienced broadcaster who has worked across major networks, including CBS, CNBC, and Yahoo News, and frequently covers global politics and economic issues.
What organizations is Peter Orszag involved with outside of Lazard?
Outside of his role at Lazard, Peter Orszag is a member of the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences and serves on the board of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and as a Trustee of Mount Sinai Hospital.
He has also contributed to organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, and ideas42, reflecting his commitment to advancing economic policy, healthcare, and education. He is Director Emeritus of New Visions Academy and continues to serve on the advisory council for The Hamilton Project, which he co-founded and previously directed.
What topics does Peter Orszag write and speak about?
Peter Orszag writes and speaks on a wide range of topics at the intersection of global business, economic, and policy issues. His commentary often focuses on the trends driving global merger and acquisition activity, geopolitical considerations impacting business decisions, as well as fiscal policy and market trends, drawing on his experience as both a private-sector leader and former government official.
