Early Life and Education
Michael Patterson's journey began with a strong educational foundation. He earned an AB in Applied Mathematics from Harvard College and later obtained an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, where he was recognized as an Arjay Miller Scholar. Prior to his career in finance, Patterson served as an officer in the United States Navy.
Rise to Success
Patterson's career in finance began at Goldman Sachs in the Principal Investment Area, where he focused on private equity and mezzanine transactions. He then moved to Silver Point Capital before co-founding Highbridge Principal Strategies (later HPS Investment Partners) in 2007 with Scott Kapnick and Scot French. HPS Investment Partners, focused on investments in private credit, public credit, private equity and real assets. The firm grew significantly during the 2008 financial crisis. In 2024, BlackRock announced its acquisition of HPS for $12 billion. In July 2025, BlackRock completed the acquisition of HPS. Patterson is currently a Senior Managing Director in BlackRock's Private Financing Solutions (PFS) Executive Office.
Key Business Strategies
Patterson's success is rooted in his expertise in private equity and credit investments. At HPS, he oversaw specialty lending, corporate lending, and core senior lending funds. His strategic approach to investments, particularly in the credit markets, has been a driving force behind his achievements. BlackRock's acquisition of HPS underscores the value of Patterson's leadership and the strength of the investment strategies he helped develop.
Philanthropy
While specific philanthropic amounts are not readily available in the search results, Patterson serves on the Dean's Advisory Council for the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Studies at Harvard. This indicates a commitment to supporting educational initiatives.
