Yale School of Management - Ellis B. Jones '79

"Since I was at Yale SOM, the business environment has obviously changed dramatically. No doubt case studies in marketing or finance for the class of '03 bear little resemblance to those of the class of '79. Looking back, classmates of my 'vintage' participated in an unimaginable expansion of business complexity and media attention over the past 20 years. With the help of '24/7' business news networks and frothy markets, both profound and cosmetic changes came at an ever faster pace. 'Services' became 'solutions,' 'industries' became 'spaces,' 'efficiency' became 'productivity,' and 'strategy' became everything. While new management and financial practices (both valid and not) have come and gone, the value of my Yale SOM experience has been anything but ephemeral. It would have been impossible for any school or faculty to anticipate the changes that have occurred in management and finance since I was at Yale SOM. Nevertheless, Yale SOM was somehow able to impart an enduring way to think about business problems, make decisions, and create opportunities which I try to use virtually everyday. In my view, Yale SOM has an incalculable 'ROI.'"

Mr. Jones has served as CEO of Wasserstein & Co. since the firm's formation. He has over 25 years of experience in investment banking and private equity and has been responsible for building and overseeing both industry and product groups at major investment banking firms. Previously, Mr. Jones was head of West Coast Investment Banking at Wasserstein Perella and, prior to that, was managing director at Salomon Brothers and ran that firm’s Hotel and Gaming Group from 1988 through 1994. Before that period, he was a vice president in investment banking at The First Boston Corporation, where he worked on the firm’s direct investments and real estate partnerships.

He currently serves on the boards of directors of Harry & David, Encompass Digital Media and Access Scientific. Mr. Jones recently served on the board of directors of Lazard and previously served on the boards of directors of Meyer Material, Odwalla, All-Clad, and IMAX, among other Wasserstein companies. He also serves as chairman of the Advisory Board of the Yale School of Management.

Mr. Jones received his MBA from the Yale School of Management and his BS from the University of California at Berkeley.