Gregg Lemkau
Gregg Lemkau | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969 (age 56–57) |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Co-CEO of BDT & MSD Partners |
Board member of | BlackRock |
| Spouse | Kate Lemkau |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents |
|
Gregg Lemkau is an American businessman, who was born in 1969, is the co-CEO of BDT & MSD Partners, a merchant bank that provides advice and capital to family and founder-led companies.[1] Additionally, he is the chairman of DFO Management, the office of Dell Technologies’ Michael Dell and his family,[2] and since early 2026 is Board member of BlackRock.[3]
Previously, Lemkau was CEO of MSD Partners, a predecessor firm of BDT & MSD Partners, and he spent 28 years in various roles and leadership positions at Goldman Sachs.[1]
Trajectory
Lemkau was born in Boston in 1969.[4] His father, Curt Lemkau (d. 2013),[5] also worked in finance.[1][6] Lemkau attended Dartmouth College, where he played as a goalkeeper for the soccer team.[4] After graduating in 1991, he briefly worked as a paralegal at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, before transitioning to investment banking.[4][7][8]
He joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst in 1992 at the age of 22 and relocated to San Francisco during the 1990s to help expand the firm's technology mergers and acquisitions (M&A) business.[9] Over a 28-year tenure at the bank, Lemkau rose through the leadership ranks, eventually being named co-head of global investment banking in 2017.[1] During his time at Goldman, he worked closely with prominent technology figures such as Elon Musk, Travis Kalanick, Marc Benioff, and Daniel Ek,[4][1][8] and led the firm’s significant investments in Facebook and Spotify.[10][11]
Notably, he advised Michael Dell on the 2013 transaction to take Dell Technologies private and later collaborated on the company's return to the public market in 2018.[4]
In 2020, Lemkau left Goldman Sachs to join MSD Partners, the investment firm managing the capital of Michael Dell and his family, serving as the firm's CEO. In this capacity, he was tasked with diversifying the company's investment portfolio and exploring new sectors.[8] In 2023, MSD Partners merged with BDT & Company, a merchant bank led by Lemkau's former Goldman Sachs colleague Byron Trott, to form BDT & MSD Partners. Lemkau and Trott serve as co-CEOs of the combined entity, which provides advisory services and capital to family- and founder-led businesses.[1][12]
Additionally, Lemkau serves as the chairman of DFO Management, the Dell family office, and in early 2026, he was appointed to the board of directors of BlackRock.[13]
Personal life
Lemkau is married. He and his wife, Kate, have four children.[14][15]
He also served on the board of directors of Grassroot Soccer, which fights HIV/AIDS in Africa.[16]
In 2015, Gregg and Kate Lemkau donated $2 million to Dartmouth to establish the Bobby Clark Head Coach of Men's Soccer position.[15]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Cuccinello, Hayley (October 27, 2022). "How Gregg Lemkau Went From Goldman CEO to Building a Hybrid Investment Bank Catering to Billionaires". Business Insider.
- ^ Platt, Eric (February 20, 2024). "Billionaire Michael Dell Backs Former Goldman Sachs Executives' New Credit Firm". Financial Times.
- ^ "BlackRock Elects Gregg Lemkau to Board of Directors". ir.blackrock.com. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
- ^ a b c d e Fontanella-Khan, James; Aliaj, Ortenca (November 20, 2020). "Gregg Lemkau:The Go-To Adviser for the Bad Boys of Silicon Valley". Financial Times.
- ^ "CURT LEMKAU Obituary (2013) - Millburn, NJ - Boston Globe". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ^ Bautzer, Tatiana (March 27, 2024). "JPMorgan Bets on New Wealth Planning Tool to Draw Investments". Reuters.
- ^ Bertocchi, Casey (July 19, 2024). "Spotlight on the 'Cabal' of '91 Trustees". The Dartmouth.
- ^ a b c Coffey, Brendan (August 8, 2024). "Ex-Goldman Sachs Execs in Celtics Deal are Michael Dell Rainmakers". Sportico.
- ^ Merced, Michael J. de la (2013-02-11). "Goldman Names a New Co-Head of M.&A". DealBook. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
- ^ Jung, Jayne (November 10, 2011). "Gregg Lemkau is Goldman's New Head of M&A for Europe". Institutional Investor.
- ^ Farrell, Maureen; Steele, Anne (April 2, 2018). "Spotify CEO Daniel EK: Once the Music Industry's Slayer, Now Its Savior". WSJ.
- ^ Gottfried, Miriam (October 21, 2022). "BDT to Merge With MSD Partners, Form New Investment and Advisory Firm". WSJ.
- ^ "BlackRock Adds Gregg Lemkau as Independent Board Director". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
- ^ Fontanella-Khan, James; Chaffin, Joshua; Noonan, Laura (March 27, 2020). "Wall Street flees Coronavirus and Glimpses its Mortality". Financial Times.
- ^ a b "Irish Extra: Former Player Endows Clark's Former Position at Dartmouth". Fighting Irish.com. August 12, 2015.
- ^ "Alumni Gifts of $5 Million Endow Head Coaching Positions". Dartmouth.edu. May 4, 2015.