Title
Planitzer, Russell E. oral historyCatalog Number
102792210Type
DocumentDescription
Russell Planitzer is managing principal at Lazard Technology Partners, the firm he co-founded with Kevin J. Burns in 1998, where he has since its founding headed Lazard’s New York office. Russell’s areas of investment focus include communications, business process applications, financial services and information technology, and he has led LTP investments including MCK Communications, Inc., Quantum Bridge Communications, Inc. and Sonoma Systems, Inc.From 1981 through 1993, Russell served as a general partner at J.H. Whitney. While at J.H. Whitney, he established a strong investment record by focusing on early-stage technology and emerging growth companies, including the incubation and founding of Wellfleet Communications, Inc. (renamed Bay Networks, Inc.).
In 1993, Russell left JH Whitney to assume direct responsibility for Prime Computer, Inc., where he reorganized the business to focus on high-end computer-aided design software and restored its profitability. He became Chairman and CEO of Prime Computer, Inc. in 1993, which was renamed Computervision, Inc. Russell Planitzer led the Computervision, Inc. to profitability by the end of 1995. In recognition of this achievement, he was named "CEO of the Year: 1995" by D.H. Brown and Associates. Russell orchestrated the sale of Computervision, Inc. to Parametric Technology, Inc.
Russell holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and he is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He is a past director of the National Venture Capital Association.
Date
2011-06-07Contributor
| Kolker, Carole, Interviewer |
| Planitzer, Russell E., Interviewee |
