Michel David-Weill, Who Led Lazard for 25 Years, Dies at 89 (1)

Michel David-Weill, the Paris-born heir to the Lazard banking dynasty who ran the investment bank during its last quarter century as a closely held family business before his successor, Bruce Wasserstein, took it public in 2005, has died. He was 89.

He died Thursday night in New York, Lazard Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Ken Jacobs said.

Known as the Sun King for his monarchical ascendance and grip on power, David-Weill presided over Lazard Freres & Co. while it was pre-eminent in the field of mergers and acquisitions, though he often left the deal-making to others. He was ...