André Meyer

André Benoît Mathieu Meyer
Born	Template:Birth date Paris, France
Died	September 9, 1979(1979-09-09) (aged 81) Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland
Occupation(s)	Investment banker, art collector
Known for	Leadership of Lazard's American operations; pioneering mergers and acquisitions techniques; financial turnaround of Citroën

André Benoît Mathieu Meyer (born September 3, 1898 – died September 9, 1979) was a prominent French-American figure in the field of investment banking.

Biography

Originating from a modest Jewish family in Paris, Meyer left formal education at the age of sixteen to begin working as a messenger at the Paris Bourse. His career progressed rapidly, leading him to join Baur & Fils, a smaller banking institution in Paris. By 1925, he had been recruited by the esteemed investment banking firm Lazard Frères, where he eventually became a partner, taking over from Raymond Philippe.

During his tenure at Lazard, Meyer established SOVAC (Societé pour la Vente à Crédit d'Automobiles), which was among the first to offer consumer financing for automobiles in the late 1920s. He was instrumental in the financial turnaround of the troubled automaker Citroën, joining its board in 1927 and contributing to its recovery through cost-cutting measures and financial restructuring, thereby preventing its bankruptcy. In recognition of his economic contributions to France, he was awarded the Legion of Honor.

Due to his Jewish background, Meyer was compelled to escape France amid the Nazi occupation during World War II. He relocated to Lazard’s New York office alongside Chairman Pierre David-Weill. Following the war, Meyer assumed leadership of Lazard’s American operations, a role he maintained for the rest of his professional life.

David Rockefeller hailed Meyer as "the most creative financial genius of our time," reflecting his status as a pioneering force within American investment banking. Dubbed "The Picasso of Banking," Meyer introduced groundbreaking financing techniques and propelled Lazard Frères to become the foremost mergers and acquisitions (M&A) firm in the United States throughout the 1960s. He masterminded significant leveraged buyouts for corporations such as International Telephone & Telegraph Company, helping it evolve into one of America's largest industrial conglomerates.

Though known for his discretion, Meyer provided counsel to influential personalities including the Kennedy family, Jackie Onassis, William S. Paley of CBS, and Katharine Graham of The Washington Post. He maintained a close advisory relationship with President Lyndon Johnson, frequently consulting with him in the Oval Office.

A passionate collector of art, Meyer’s portfolio featured masterpieces by artists like Claude Monet, Marc Chagall, and Pablo Picasso, alongside Louis XIV-era furniture and original musical manuscripts. In 1961, he generously donated key works to New York’s Museum of Modern Art. After his passing, the Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired his collection of 19th-century European artworks. His vast assortment of rare music scores was sold at auction by Sotheby's in 2012.

Meyer owned a retreat in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, where he passed away in 1979 due to circulatory complications. He was interred in Paris’s Jewish section of Cimetière du Montparnasse, close to Pierre David-Weill.

Legacy

Felix Rohatyn acknowledges Meyer as a mentor who significantly influenced his achievements at Lazard through valuable guidance and support.