Ken Mehlman

Ken is a Member at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, LLP, helping KKR assess and improve the companies in which it invests by better understanding and managing geopolitical risk and engaging with their key stakeholders. Ken also oversees the firm's global external affairs activities, including corporate marketing, regulatory affairs and public policy & communications. Ken leads KKR's Environmental Social Governance (ESG) programs for the firm and its portfolio companies. KKR's ESG highlights include developing a partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund in 2008, which led to KKR's Green Portfolio Program that has achieved $917 million in financial impact while avoiding 1.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions; the launch of KKR Wellness Works in 2012, a research collaboration with the American Heart Association, seven KKR private equity portfolio companies and their 190k employees; and the publishing of the first-ever Environmental, Social, and Governance reports for a private equity firm. Before joining KKR, Ken was a Partner at the global law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. Mr. Mehlman spent a dozen years in national politics and government service, including as 62nd Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Campaign Manager of President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, the only Republican presidential campaign in 25 years to win the popular vote. Michael Barone, author of the Almanac of American Politics, compared Mehlman's success to Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton's, particularly in their revolutionary approaches to identifying new customers and constituents. Mr. Mehlman also served in high level positions in Congress and the White House. Mr. Mehlman, who currently lives in New York City, graduated with a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Mr. Mehlman is Chairman of the Private Equity and Growth Capital Council, the association representing the private equity and growth capital industries, a trustee of Mt. Sinai Hospital of New York, Franklin & Marshall College, the American Foundation for Equal Rights and the Ideal School of Manhattan, Co-chairman of the American Enterprise Institute's National Council, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.