Lazard Ltd. has hired Thomas Suozzi, former executive of Nassau County, N.Y., as a senior adviser on partnerships between private infrastructure companies and state and local governments.
Suozzi, 47, was Nassau County executive from 2002 to 2009. The Long Island county’s bond ratings were upgraded 13 times while he was in office.
He was also mayor of Glen Cove from 1994 to 2001.
In addition, Suozzi, a Democrat, was chairman and principal of the New York Metropolitan Council, and chairman of the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief.
Last year, Suozzi lost his campaign for re-election for county executive.
In a statement, George Bilicic, Lazard’s global head of power, energy, and infrastructure, said Suozzi’s experience with governments and budgets will help issuers utilize public-private partnerships to save money.
“He provides a unique perspective regarding the challenges facing institutions that are seeking to invest in public-private partnerships and, of course, has real-life insight into the workings of government,” Bilicic said.
Suozzi is an attorney and a certified public accountant.
Before going into public service, he worked as a lawyer at Shearman & Sterling, an auditor at Arthur Andersen, and a clerk to the chief judge of the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Suozzi is also a consultant to Cablevision System Corp., according to his website.
