Jeffrey P. Hughes

Jeff Hughes is Vice Chairman and a founding partner of The Cypress Group, a New York based private equity firm which currently manages two private equity funds with more than $3.5 billion in commitments.

After practicing with the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, LLP, Mr. Hughes worked for 26 years at Lehman Brothers as a senior investment banker and merchant banker. Mr. Hughes joined Lehman Brothers in 1968 and became a partner in 1976. During his career at Lehman, he founded Lehman Brothers' private financing department and led early LBO financings; had senior investment banking coverage responsibilities for industrial, energy and consumer product companies; was head of the financial institutions group; and was a member of Lehman Brothers' investment committee.

Mr. Hughes has been a director of many public and private companies during his 42-year business career including Financial Guaranty Insurance Company, Communications & Power Industries, Inc., Catlin Group Limited, Lear Corporation, Medicus Insurance Holdings, Inc. and Parisian, Inc.

Mr. Hughes graduated from Wesleyan University and Duke University Law School. He is Chairman of the Duke Global Capital Markets Center and is a Trustee of the Park Avenue Church Trust Fund and The Battery Conservancy.