Lazard Appoints Eric Van Nostrand as CIO; Advisory Revenue Lags Peers with 2026 Hopes
Lazard Asset Management appointed Eric Van Nostrand as newly created Chief Investment Officer to oversee global investment processes, strengthen portfolio construction standards and deepen risk framework integration. Lazard’s advisory revenue growth trails large-ticket M&A peers, with private capital and restructuring mandates driving most fees and sponsor-backed deal flow expected to boost 2026 results.
1. Lazard Asset Management Establishes Chief Investment Officer Role
Lazard Asset Management has created a new Chief Investment Officer position and appointed Eric Van Nostrand to the role, signaling a strategic initiative to enhance cohesion, discipline and effectiveness across its global investment platform. As CIO, Mr. Van Nostrand will oversee investment processes, drive firm-wide economic and investment debate, and conduct ongoing reviews of risk frameworks and strategy performance. Portfolio managers will report into the CIO’s office while retaining decision-making authority for their individual mandates.
2. Van Nostrand’s Track Record and Responsibilities
Eric Van Nostrand joins the CIO role from his prior post as Global Head of Markets and Chief Economist at Lazard Asset Management. His career includes serving as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy—where he received the Alexander Hamilton Award for leading analysis of U.S. domestic and international economic policy—and a tenure as Managing Director and portfolio manager at BlackRock, overseeing systematic equity funds and heading research for multi-asset strategies. At Lazard, he will partner with investment leaders to strengthen portfolio construction standards, deepen research rigor and elevate cross-strategy coordination.
3. Fund Distribution Reinforces Income Generation Focus
Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. confirmed a monthly distribution of $0.1534 per share—equivalent to a 10% annualized yield based on net asset value as of December 31, 2025—payable January 22, 2026 to shareholders of record on January 12, 2026 (ex-dividend January 12). The Fund’s portfolio consists of 60 to 80 U.S. and non-U.S. equities (including ADRs) in companies with market capitalizations above $2 billion, supplemented by emerging-market currency forwards and debt instruments, reflecting a total-return objective across income and capital appreciation.
4. Scale and Global Reach under CEO Chris Hogbin
Under the leadership of CEO Chris Hogbin, Lazard Asset Management reports approximately $250 billion of client assets as of November 30, 2025, invested across equity, fixed-income and alternative strategies. The establishment of the CIO role and the confirmation of distribution policies underscore Lazard’s emphasis on research-driven, scalable processes, tighter integration of risk analytics and technology, and consistent application of investment discipline to deliver repeatable outcomes for institutional, corporate and high-net-worth clients worldwide.