Private equity giant Blackstone has appointed John Stecher, formerly group chief technology officer and group chief innovation officer at Barclays, as chief technology officer (CTO) from February 24. 

John Stecher

John Stecher

Stecher will lead Blackstone’s global technology organisation and help advise the firm’s investing teams and portfolio companies on technology-related matters, reporting to Michael Chae, Blackstone’s chief financial officer.

'Technology and innovation is a strategic priority for the firm,' said Chae. 'John Stecher is a world-class technologist and inspiring leader who will help us build on this success and to harness the power of technology across our firm and portfolio.'

Stecher succeeds Bill Murphy, who was in the CTO role for eight years, and will continue to serve as a senior advisor to the firm.

Stecher added: 'Blackstone has invested significantly in technology to better run its business and serve investors while leveraging that expertise to inform its investing teams. The scale and breadth of the platform offers a unique opportunity and I look forward to working with the talented professionals across the firm to take Blackstone’s technology teams and innovation agenda to the next level.'

Prior to Barclays, Stecher spent more than seven years at Goldman Sachs in a variety of senior technology and engineering roles across the firm's capital markets, technology and consumer finance divisions.