Grayscale Appoints Former Goldman Sachs Exec as New CEO Starting August

Grayscale Investments, the world’s largest crypto asset manager has announced the appointment of Peter Mintzberg as its new Chief Executive Officer. This latest development follows the resignation of its long-time CEO Michael Sonneshein. 

1/ As we position @Grayscale for its next phase of growth, excited to welcome Peter Mintzberg as Grayscale’s CEO, effective August 15. Joining from Goldman Sachs, Peter has 20+ years of experience across prominent asset managers, including BlackRock, OppenheimerFunds & Invesco…

— Barry Silbert (@BarrySilbert) May 20, 2024

Michael Sonnenshein Steps Down

Grayscale’s long-time CEO Michael Sonnenshein is set to depart from the firm after a decade-long tenure. Taking to the social media platform X, Sonneshein expressed his gratitude to BarrySilbert and the Grayscale team for their achievements together. 

The firm stated that Sonnenshein’s resignation arrived to give the executive a chance to pursue other interests. With Sonneshein as its then-CEO, Grayscale played an important role in the approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs. Speaking on that, the investment firm expressed their appreciation for his contributions to its growth saying:

“Micheal guided Grayscale from $60 million to ~$30 billion of assets under management and through its historic court victory against the Securities and Exchange Commission, which enabled Grayscale to uplist the first spot Bitcoin ETF to NYSE Arca alongside the largest players in traditional finance. We wish him the best”. 

Mintzberg Appointed as CEO 

Currently the Global Strategy Director at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Mintzberg’s appointment as the CEO would be effective August 15, 2024, at which time he will also join Grayscale’s Board of Directors. 

The firm stated that Mintzberg has over 20 years of experience having worked across prominent asset managers, including BlackRock, OppenheimerFunds & Invesco, and the aforementioned Goldman Sachs. Therefore, his previous roles are expected to equip him with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the dynamic and complex world of cryptocurrency asset management.

“Peter is an exceptional strategic leader with global expertise across the most prominent asset managers, which are critical ingredients as we position Grayscale for its next phase of growth,” said Barry Silbert, Founder & CEO, of DCG. “I’m excited to see what he accomplishes at Grayscale in its next chapter as the firm continues to expand its future-forward investment product suite,” the firm said.

Mintzberg’s appointment comes at a time when the cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant growth and volatility. With this role, he would be expected to bring a wealth of experience and strategic insight which will position the company for future success.