Gary Parr
Gary Wilton Parr | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BSBA); Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management (MBA) |
| Occupation(s) | Investment banker, executive |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Known for | Senior Managing Director at Apollo Global Management; Deputy Chairman and Board member at Lazard; co-founder of Parré Chocolat |
| Spouse | Katherine Parr |
Gary Wilton Parr is a prominent American investment banker and executive on Wall Street. He holds the position of Senior Managing Director at Apollo Global Management and participates as a member of its Management Committee. Earlier in his career, he was Deputy Chairman and served on the Board of Lazard, where he provided counsel to governments and corporations during the Great Financial Crisis.
Early life and education
Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Parr obtained a BSBA with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979, where he was affiliated with the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. He further advanced his education by earning an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Wall Street
Parr launched his career at First Boston Corp, specializing in mergers within the insurance sector. In 1988, he joined the advisory firm Wasserstein Perella, established by Bruce Wasserstein and Joseph Perella, eventually rising to the role of Co-President. By 1993, Parr transitioned to Morgan Stanley, where he led the Global Financial Institutions Group and co-headed Global M&A alongside William Lewis Jr., later assuming the title of Vice Chairman. In 2003, he became Deputy Chairman and a Board member at Lazard.
Throughout his tenure, Parr played advisory roles in significant financial services transactions such as Lehman Brothers’ North American investment banking division sale to Barclays, Bear Stearns’ acquisition by JP Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ’s $9 billion capital infusion into Morgan Stanley, Kuwait’s investment in Citigroup, China Investment Corporation’s stake purchase in Morgan Stanley, the merger of Bank of New York and Mellon, Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette’s sale to Credit Suisse First Boston, Dean Witter Discover’s combination with Morgan Stanley, and Berkshire Hathaway’s takeover of GEICO.
In addition to his finance career, Parr co-founded Parré Chocolat with his wife Katherine, a brand known for its premium chocolates.
Board leadership and philanthropy
- New York Philharmonic: Parr holds the title of Chairman Emeritus after completing two terms as Chairman from September 2009 through February 2015.
- Venetian Heritage: He previously chaired this organization focused on safeguarding the artistic and architectural heritage of the former Republic of Venice.
Additional Board Affiliations:
- Morgan Library & Museum
- Berkeley Divinity School at Yale
- Lincoln Center: Member of both Executive Committee and Board
- Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Parr Center for Ethics at the University of North Carolina
Established by Parr in 2004, the Parr Center for Ethics at UNC Chapel Hill recently celebrated its twentieth year. Co-founded with philosopher Geoffrey Sayre-McCord, the Center fosters ethical inquiry through visiting scholars and public lectures. It also organizes the National High School Ethics Bowl, a nationwide contest designed to develop students’ ethical reasoning abilities. Parr continues to serve as Chairman, while Sarah Stroud has been Director since 2018.
Parr Shakespeare Prize for Excellence in Teaching Shakespeare
In 2025, Parr established the national Parr Shakespeare Prize for Excellence in Teaching Shakespeare to pay tribute to his high school English teacher, Miss Gragg, who sparked his enthusiasm for William Shakespeare. He gathered a prestigious advisory and judging committee featuring experts such as Eric Rasmussen, James Shapiro, Zachary Lesser, David Kastan, and Ayanna Thompson, and launched the award throughout all fifty states.
Personal life
As a dedicated preservationist, Parr has restored ten historically important estates. Among these are Chastellux, a French Chateau designed by McKim, Mead, and White set on ten acres landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted in Tuxedo Park, New York; Casa Alva, crafted by Palm Beach architect Maurice Fatio for Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, the former Duchess of Marlboro; a 1906 residence reflecting the Arts and Crafts movement located in New Canaan, Connecticut; and a 1911 English Jacobean mansion on Park Avenue in New York City designed by John Russell Pope.
Parr collaborated with Fred Whittemore to establish a fund that produced ten films under Hart Sharp Entertainment, including titles such as Boys Don't Cry (1999 film), Revolutionary Road, Proof, and Nicholas Nickelby.
He is married to Katherine Parr, who works as a non-profit consultant, educator, and has a background as a fashion model.
Known for his economical habits, Parr is said to cut his own hair.
Awards
In 2013, Parr was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of North Carolina. He also received recognition from Young Audiences for Learning in 2015 for his impact on the performing arts.
Media mentions and books
Parr’s expertise has led to frequent interviews in business media outlets. Additionally, he is featured in several prominent Wall Street history publications including Too Big To Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin, as well as in The Last Tycoons, The Sellout, and Street Fighters.