Blackstone hired Yifat Oron as a senior managing director and head of the firm’s new office in Tel Aviv, Israel. She will lead Blackstone’s growth and tech investments in Israel for Blackstone Growth, the firm’s growth equity business, and assist with other investing efforts across the firm.
Oron has more than 20 years of experience as a tech investor and executive in Israel, with leadership roles in venture capital, banking and consulting.
Prior to joining Blackstone, Oron was the CEO of LeumiTech, an Israeli technology banking platform, servicing and financing several thousand technology companies and supporting their global expansion via LeumiTech’s global footprint. She also spent most of her career as a partner at Vertex Venture Capital (an Israel-based venture fund), where she invested in and served as a board member of companies across the tech ecosystem.
Before joining Vertex, Oron was a technology investment banking associate at JPMorgan Chase in New York. Previously, she spent three years as the directorate of R&D of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, where she achieved the rank of lieutenant in the economics, budget and control department.
Blackstone Growth recently completed the final close of its oversubscribed, inaugural $4.5 billion growth equity fund. Blackstone Growth began deploying capital in 2020 and has already made a number of investments, including in Bumble (which recently completed an initial public offering), Oatly, ISN, GeoComply, Ginger Health, Hydrogen Health and Epidemic Sound.
Ambassador Dan Gillerman, former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, has served as Blackstone’s senior advisor in Israel since 2013. With the establishment of Blackstone’s new office in Tel Aviv, Gillerman will become chairman of Blackstone Israel, continuing to serve as an advisor to the firm and the Israel-based team.
“We are increasingly focused on investing in fast-growing sectors, such as technology, life sciences and the digital economy. Israel is one of the most promising markets in the world in these areas and Yifat is the perfect choice to scale our firm’s presence and investments there,” Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, said.
“We are big believers in Israel, which is one of the most dynamic and innovative markets in the world,” Jon Korngold, global head of Blackstone Growth, said. “I’m delighted to welcome Yifat, an outstanding technology executive and leader, to help us bring the full power of the Blackstone platform and our resources to the country’s entrepreneurs.”
“I’m thrilled to join Blackstone and lead the firm’s growth investments in Israel. The breadth of what Blackstone can deliver to entrepreneurs in terms of capital and operating expertise is truly world-class. I’m excited to help fast-growing companies in Israel become global leaders through Blackstone’s resources and global network,” Oron said.
“I look forward to working with Yifat, a deeply respected tech and finance leader, to scale our efforts and support the most promising companies, entrepreneurs and technological innovation in Israel,” Gillerman said.
