Lazard Global Head of M&A Mark McMaster at The Conference Board's 2026 M&A Summit

On May 6, Lazard Global Head of M&A Mark McMaster joined Marriott International's Tim Grisius for a panel discussion moderated by Business Insider's Jamie Heller at The Conference Board's 2026 M&A Summit. 

With large-scale transactions and strategic activity continuing to accelerate into 2026, Mark and Tim discussed how the strongest portfolio decisions get made and underscored how disciplined portfolio strategy remains central to long-term value creation. The conversation also explored the evolving role of activist investors, the continued importance of strong corporate governance, and how AI is beginning to influence decision-making across M&A and advisory work.

As Mark noted, "companies increasingly need a clear AI strategy — not only to drive growth, but to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market."