Dietrich Becker (MBA ’91) is a Partner and President of Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP), based in the heart of Mayfair in London. He has served as head of PWP's European business since 2017 and as co-president of the firm since 2020. Becker was honored at the Haskins Giving Society Award Dinner in 2023, has been a member of the Stern Executive Board since 2015, and he will be stepping into the role of Chair of the Stern Executive Board on July 1, 2024.

Tell us about your childhood and where you grew up.

I was born in a small town in the North of Germany, Lüneburg, but grew up in Düsseldorf. My father was a pharmacist, and my mother a teacher and school principal. I was a single child and had a modest, middle class upbringing with a strong focus on education and sport. My parents got divorced when I was 12,  and my mother married an American, thus ensuring my bilingual upbringing. I had a lot of family in the UK and spent time in London. I played tennis competitively and became a passionate skier, eventually becoming a ski teacher at the age of 20. I was also a very mediocre guitarist in a not-so-good band.

You studied law as an undergraduate. What inspired you to go into investment banking?

I studied law because the legal thought and deduction process appealed to me, and I thought of it as a useful entry point into the business world. However, I decided early in my studies that I would not go on to practice law. My interest in investment banking was triggered by reading Barbarians at the Gate, the story of the takeover of RJR Nabisco. I became fascinated with the world of mergers and acquisitions and wanted to learn more about it. An MBA program in the world financial capital, New York City, seemed like a good way to get onto that path.

How long have you lived in London? Were you based there for Morgan Stanley?

I have been based in London since 1991 and worked from there while I was at Morgan Stanley and later when I became part of the group that founded Perella Weinberg Partners.

What do you love about your work?

Where to start? I am surrounded by and get to work with incredibly smart, interesting, and ambitious people at all levels of our industry. I spend time with impressive investors, entrepreneurs, leaders of iconic companies, and boards of large organizations while they contemplate some of their most transformational decisions, often with major implications for their businesses, their various stakeholders, and for themselves. That never stops being incredibly exciting. After 33 years in this business, I still lose sleep over deals, but I love it.

How did you come to choose NYU Stern for your MBA?

While in law school in Germany I took a four-week summer trip to the U.S. to learn about different U.S. business schools. It became clear to me that I wanted to be in New York and as close to Wall Street as possible. I applied to NYU Stern and Columbia, and NYU Stern accepted me first. Columbia came through three weeks later, but I had already signed up with Stern and never looked back.

Dietrich Becker (MBA ’91) is honored at the 2023 Haskins Giving Society Award Dinner

What was your experience like coming to Stern and living in NYC?

I had visited New York previously, as a tourist, but didn’t know it well. Given my desire to work on Wall Street, it was an obvious place for me to go, but it was still a major culture shock for a young German from a small town. The late ’80s were an incredibly exciting time to live in downtown New York City, and I loved every minute of it. I lived in the Meatpacking District, which was still a rough neighborhood at the time, and I cycled to the school each day, which was then still based next to the American Stock Exchange, just around the corner from Wall Street. A dream come true for me.

What are your fondest memories of NYU Stern?

My time at Stern was one of the most fun, interesting, and exciting times of my life. I felt incredibly free, inspired by my fellow students, faculty, and friends and privileged to be surrounded by and working with people from all over the world. It was an interesting time in the world (the fall of the Berlin Wall, the first Gulf War, Japan was booming) and a very interesting time culturally in New York, in terms of music, art, and nightlife.

Favorite professors or classes?

My favorite professors were Aswath Damodaran (he still is and has taught me so much!!), Ingo Walter, and Roy Smith, the latter a former M&A banker at Goldman Sachs who inspired me to pursue my interest in the field.

How has the School evolved since you were a student?

So much has happened in the 33 years since I graduated! The School moved into its premises on West 4th Street, went through several leadership changes, developed lots of new programs, and steadily improved both its facilities, its rankings, and its offering. Alumni engagement has dramatically improved, and the academic performance has gone from strength to strength. It has been a wonderful journey to watch, and I look forward to all that is yet to come!

When you have free time, how do you like to unwind and relax?

My passion is great food, and I love to cook, experiment with new recipes, and cook for my loved ones. My family (four adult kids) is dispersed throughout North America and Europe, and so my wife and I travel a lot to see them. I am interested in art, literature, technology, and longevity and generally love to read and learn. My wife is an artist, and this generally draws me into the art world. I especially love photography. My family and I also love EDM and will go to Glastonbury, Coachella, or a good party if we can find the time.
 

Where did you last vacation?

We have a second home in Marrakech, Morocco, and go there whenever we have time, especially during the winter months—another place to enjoy great food, good weather, and a magical lifestyle. In the summer, we like to rent a house in Ibiza or sometimes go to Mykonos or one of the other islands in the Aegean sea.

Illustration by Joe McKendry