PEOPLE - Costa’s Conversion

As an evangelical Christian and one of London’s leading rainmakers, Ken Costa believes it is possible to serve God and mammon.

As an evangelical Christian and one of London’s leading rainmakers, Ken Costa believes it is possible to serve God and mammon. Indeed, the 57-year-old investment banker published a book earlier this year, God at Work, in which he argues that people should apply their religious values in the workplace.

Now Costa is putting his faith in Bruce Almighty. The banker became chairman of Lazard International earlier this month, reporting directly to chairman and CEO Bruce Wasserstein, after stepping down as vice chairman of European investment banking at UBS, where he advised such blue-chip clients as Anglo American, Diageo and Standard Chartered Bank.

Costa declined to comment, but a person familiar with his thinking says, “Going to Lazard allows him to return to pure advisory and avoid conflicts of interest when it comes to flogging specific financing products.”

Related