[Photo:  CNBC Squawk Box]

Gary Parr had deals going in 3 parts of the world when he dropped the mic on a 30-year career as a banker.

Parr, 59, has been a player in just about every financial story worth bold headlines in recent years. Now he’s left Lazard Ltd. for Apollo Global Management, to work with co-founders Leon Black, Mark Rowan and Josh Harris. Parr started Monday with a broad mandate as a senior managing director.

While the career change drew skepticism from some former colleagues who wonder how much he knows about things like accumulating real estate and investing in debt, Davide Serra called the switch a “natural evolution” for the consummate banker. “It’s a step up,” said Serra, who worked at Morgan Stanley at the same time as Parr and went on to create hedge fund Algebris Investments.

“Gary’s sound judgment, deep expertise and extensive network of relationships throughout the financial services industry will prove invaluable as Apollo continues to broaden and expand its business,” Harris said.

Parr is no stranger to Apollo. He got to know Black more than a decade ago when he worked for the late dealmaker Bruce Wasserstein. Parr advised Apollo on its 2011 initial public offering, helping Lazard earn $1.5 million in fees, and recently assisted Apollo sell shares in insurer Athene Holding – one of Apollo’s largest holdings - generating as much as 25% of Apollo’s asset management fees in recent years.

“Am I here to do investing? No. There are plenty of people here who know how to invest,” Parr said in an interview in his new office. “I’m thinking strategically about where the firm should build.”

Parr brings to Apollo a long list of contacts from banking. He’ll use it to help expand Apollo’s real estate and credit divisions, especially in Europe, where big lenders are scaling back. It’s a business Parr knows well - he’s worked with lenders in Italy, Spain and Ireland. And he’ll forge partnerships in Asia, where Apollo has little presence.

Parr “will work with the leadership team in areas such as strategic and financial matters, capital markets for the firm, where Gary has significant expertise, and leverage his extensive network of financial institution relationships,” said an Apollo spokesman.