Ken Mehlman Joins KKR

Ken Mehlman, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, has joined Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. as a managing director and head of global public affairs. He most recently served as a partner with law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where KKR was among his clients.

PRESS RELEASE

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. today announced that Kenneth B. Mehlman, noted counselor on national legislative and public affairs initiatives, will join the firm as Managing Director and Head of Global Public Affairs, a new position.

Mr. Mehlman will focus on constructive outreach to the numerous stakeholders of KKR and its portfolio companies around the world, including relationships with governments, third parties, and NGOs.

He is currently a Partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld with a bi- partisan practice in legislative and regulatory counseling.  He previously served in high-level positions on Capitol Hill and the White House, including as Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Campaign Manager of President Bush's successful re-election campaign.

“We have been increasingly engaged with a wide range of constituents in recent years,” said KKR co-Founding Members Henry R. Kravis and George R. Roberts. “As we continue to communicate the public benefits of private equity, Ken is a wonderful addition to our executive team, allowing us to expand and institutionalize our outreach to key groups across our portfolio.

“Ken is known for his innovative approach to stakeholder issues and has been applauded by Republicans and Democrats alike for his integrity and professionalism.  We believe his leadership of a strategic public affairs function for KKR is an important step in our firm's continuing evolution and growth and offers our firm a competitive advantage in the future.”    

Mr. Mehlman, 41, received his B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College in 1988 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1991. He is a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland Bars.  Mr. Mehlman is a trustee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Franklin & Marshall College and the Strong American Schools Foundation. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and also serves on the Council on Foreign Relations Climate Change Task Force, the Senior Advisory Committee of the Harvard University Institute of Politics, the board of directors at the National Endowment for Democracy and the executive leadership cabinet of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation.

About KKR

Established in 1976, KKR is a leading global alternative asset manager. The core of the Firm's franchise is sponsoring and managing funds that make private equity investments in North America, Europe, and Asia. Throughout its history, KKR has brought a long-term investment approach to portfolio companies, focusing on working in partnership with management teams and investing for future competitiveness and growth. Additional funds that KKR sponsors include KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P. (Euronext Amsterdam: KPE), a permanent capital fund that invests in KKR-identified investments; and two credit strategy funds, KKR Financial (NYSE: KFN) and the KKR Strategic Capital Funds, which make investments in debt transactions. KKR has offices in New York, Menlo Park, San Francisco, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.kkr.com.