NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced leadership appointments in its flagship private equity businesses.
Henry Kravis and George Roberts, Co-Chief Executive Officers and Co-Founders of KKR, said: “While our firm has evolved over the years, private equity is where it all began. Today, this asset class remains as important as ever as it continues to support companies and communities and meet the critical needs of our fund investors. We believe these promotions will enable us to maintain our leadership in private equity for decades to come.”
KKR currently has $75 billion in private equity assets under management globally as of June 30, 2019. In the firm’s 43-year history, KKR has made over 360 private equity transactions, turning $88 billion of invested capital into $184 billion of value benefiting its Limited Partners, including the many public pensions they support.
In the Americas, Pete Stavros and Nate Taylor have been promoted to co-lead the Private Equity business. They will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations of the business and continue to report to Joe Bae, Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of KKR.
In Europe, Mattia Caprioli and Philipp Freise have been promoted to co-lead the Private Equity business. They will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations of the business and continue to report to Johannes Huth who oversees KKR’s activities in the region.
In Asia-Pacific, Hiro Hirano and Ashish Shastry have been promoted to co-lead the Private Equity business. They will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations of the business and continue to report to Ming Lu who oversees KKR’s activities in Asia Pacific.
“We take great pride in our private equity track record of delivering for our investors and are confident that with the new leadership and our strong team of dedicated executives, we are well positioned for the future,” said Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall, Co-Presidents and Co-Chief Operating Officers of KKR.
About Pete Stavros
Pete Stavros, 45, joined KKR in 2005. Since then, he has worked across the healthcare, media and industrial sectors in the Americas and helped lead a number of the firm’s landmark investments, including HCA. Since 2010, Stavros has led the Industrials investment team where he pioneered an innovative employee engagement and ownership model, an approach that has been central to a portfolio of successful investments, including Gardner Denver, Capsugel, Capital Safety and CHI Overhead Doors. Stavros also serves as Co-Chair of KKR’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee.
About Nate Taylor
Nate Taylor, 43, joined KKR in 2005. Originally focused on the technology sector in the Americas, Taylor relocated to Asia in 2009 to support the firm’s leadership in growing the Asia Private Equity business, which included the establishment and scaling of the firm’s business in India. In 2014, after having returned to Menlo Park, Taylor ultimately took over leadership of the firm’s retail and consumer sectors in the Americas, including leading the firm’s investment in National Vision and its more recent investments in Nature’s Bounty and Upfield.
About Mattia Caprioli
Mattia Caprioli, 45, joined KKR in 2001. In his eighteen years at the firm, he has worked across a variety of sectors, including industrial, consumer and healthcare, and has been an important contributor to successful deals for the firm such as Walgreens Boots Alliance and Legrand. Since 2010, Caprioli has focused on building out KKR’s European services industry team, establishing the firm’s consumer and leisure services sector, including leading successful investments in PortAventura, Travelopia and a new investment in Sector Alarm. He has also been responsible for the development of KKR’s activities in Italy, where he played a key role in transactions such as Selenia and Avincis Mission-Critical Services.
About Philipp Freise
Philipp Freise, 46, joined KKR in 2001. Working closely with EMEA leadership, he helped establish the firm’s strong German franchise, contributing to deals such as Demag, DSD and Zumtobel and most recently Axel Springer SE and TeleMünchen Group. Since 2005, Freise has focused on building out EMEA’s Technology Media and Telecom industry vertical where he has played a significant role in many of KKR’s successful investments, including in, BMG Rights Management, Fotolia, GetYourGuide, GfK SE, Leonine, Scout24 Switzerland, and Trainline. He also helped establish KKR’s Technology Growth Equity team and business in Europe.
About Hirofumi (Hiro) Hirano
Hirofumi Hirano, 58, joined KKR in 2013 as Chief Executive Officer of KKR Japan. At KKR, Hirano has significantly grown KKR’s business in Japan, including leading major investments, such as Panasonic Healthcare, Pioneer DJ, Calsonic Kansei, Hitachi Koki and Hitachi Kokusai Electric. Prior to joining KKR, Hirano worked at AlixPartners and before that he led the principal investment arm of Nikko Cordial Group (now known as SMBC Nikko Securities), including as Chairman.
About Ashish Shastry
Ashish Shastry, 44, joined KKR in 2016 as Head of Southeast Asia. At KKR, he is responsible for building the Southeast Asia business across product lines and has been involved in KKR’s investments in Goodpack, PropertyGuru, MMI Holdings, Joulon, BBP (Impact) and 800 Super (Credit). Prior to KKR, he was a managing partner of Northstar Group, a private equity and venture capital fund manager in Southeast Asia. Before that, he spent 13 years at TPG Capital, ultimately running their Southeast Asia business.
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.
