Shannon Houston

Shannon Houston is Global Head of Communications and Marketing for Lazard and serves on the firm’s Management Committee. In this role, she leads the firm’s global communications and marketing strategy, proactively building and promoting Lazard’s reputation and brand across key audiences and channels. She has broad experience as an advisor to board directors and senior executives during critical corporate transitions, including leadership succession, acquisitions and divestitures, and evolving regulatory oversight.

She joined Lazard in 2023 after spending close to 15 years at First Republic, an S&P 500 private bank and wealth management firm, where she most recently served as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. She was a member of the transition leadership team supporting First Republic’s post‑acquisition integration into JPMorgan Chase. Earlier in her career, Shannon worked in investor relations, where she was recognized as part of Institutional Investor magazine’s All‑America Executive Team for Best IR Professional and Best IR Program in the large‑cap banking sector.

Shannon is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s General Management Program and holds a Master of Arts from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma City University. She serves on the board of GALLIM Dance in New York and previously served on the board of Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco. She was also a member of the Lincoln Center Leadership Fellows Class of 2022.