Back to Press Releases KKR Appoints Roland Koch as Senior Advisor

KKR

Frankfurt, Germany – September 22, 2025 – KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the appointment of Prof. Dr. hc mult. Roland Koch as Senior Advisor. In this role, Professor Koch will advise KKR’s investment teams and portfolio companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with a particular focus on regulation and governance-related matters.

Mr. Koch has about 30 years’ experience in senior roles spanning government, business, and the non-profit sector. He has held leadership positions in public policy, corporate management, and academia, making him uniquely positioned to support KKR’s continued growth and investment strategy in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Roland Koch has been serving as Chairman of Ludwig Erhard Stiftung e.V., Professor of Management Practice in Regulated Environments and Director of the Frankfurt Competence Center for German and Global Regulation (FCCR) at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management for several years. In addition, he is a member of the Supervisory Board of Vodafone Germany, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peter Dussmann Foundation, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dussmann Stiftung & Co. KGaA.

“We are pleased to welcome Roland Koch as a senior advisor,” said Christian Ollig, Partner and Head of the DACH region at KKR. “His extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, coupled with his deep understanding of regulatory and governance issues, will be invaluable as we support ambitious companies and entrepreneurs throughout the DACH region.”

Commenting on his appointment, Roland Koch said: “KKR plays a pivotal role in providing capital solutions to scale key technologies including, for example, space technology, life sciences, cloud and IT services, as well as financing digital and energy infrastructure projects that provide the backbone for future economic growth in the region. Drawing on my experience in both public policy and corporate governance, I look forward to helping KKR and its portfolio companies navigate an evolving regulatory landscape and seize new opportunities for innovation and growth.”

Prior to his current roles, Koch held prominent positions in both the public and private sectors. He served as Chairman of the Executive Board of Bilfinger SE, overseeing significant organizational transformation and driving operational excellence, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of UBS Europe SE. Earlier in his career, he was Minister President of the State of Hesse for eleven years, as well as Chairman of the Hessian CDU, and Deputy Federal Chairman of the CDU in Germany.

The appointment of Roland Koch underscores Germany’s key role for KKR in Europe and further strengthens the firm’s commitment to partnering with local leaders in the region. He joins a growing network of Senior Advisors at KKR in Germany, including Philip Oetker, Philipp Pausder, Dr. Johannes Teyssen, and most recently Theodor Weimer.

With over 25 years of investment activity in the EMEA region, KKR today manages approximately €137 billion in assets in Europe across its various asset classes. In the DACH region, KKR has invested approximately €20 billion in equity in more than 40 companies since 1999, with over two thirds of these investments in partnership with founders, family-owned businesses and corporates.

About KKR 

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

Media contact

Thea Homschei
Mobile: +49 (0) 172 13 99 761
E-Mail: kkr_germany@fgsglobal.com
Emily Lagemann
Mobile: +49 (0) 160 99 27 13 35
E-Mail: kkr_germany@fgsglobal.com

Categories: People

Blackstone Real Estate Announces Key Leadership Appointments

Blackstone

Katie Keenan appointed CEO of BREIT and Global Head of Core+ Real Estate

Tim Johnson appointed CEO of BXMT

New York – September 19, 2025 – Blackstone (NYSE: BX) today announced several senior leadership updates within its Real Estate business.

BREIT and Core+ Leadership
Katie Keenan has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (“BREIT”) and Global Head of the Core+ Real Estate business.  She succeeds Wesley M. LePatner, who served in both roles until her tragic passing on July 28, 2025.

Ms. Keenan is a long-tenured Blackstone executive and has held numerous leadership positions since joining the firm in 2012.  She currently serves as Global Co-Chief Investment Officer of Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies (“BREDS”) and Chief Executive Officer of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXMT), a publicly-traded commercial mortgage REIT managed by a subsidiary of Blackstone.  Ms. Keenan has been integral to the success of BXMT and the broader BREDS business, helping grow the BREDS platform to $77 billion today.

Zaneta Koplewicz, currently BREIT Head of Shareholder Relations, has been named Co-President and Director of BREIT with current Co-President, Blackstone veteran A.J. Agarwal.  BREIT Interim CEO Rob Harper will resume his long-time role as BREIT Head of Asset Management.

Ms. Keenan said: “Thanks to the dedication of Wesley and many others, BREIT represents some of Blackstone’s finest work.  Its strong performance is driven by a portfolio that is ~90% concentrated in sectors that are benefitting from long-term, secular megatrends, particularly data centers.  BREIT is incredibly well-positioned and I am looking forward to working with the team to capitalize on the ongoing real estate recovery, with new supply falling sharply, the cost of debt capital coming down, and transaction activity picking up.”

BREIT’s highly differentiated portfolio positioning has led to a 9.2% annualized net return on Class I since inception over 8 and a half years ago, over 60% higher than the public REIT index on a cumulative basis.

BXMT Leadership
Tim Johnson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of BXMT, succeeding Ms. Keenan.  As the Global Head of BREDS and Chair of BXMT’s Board, Mr. Johnson has played an active role in overseeing BXMT for over a decade and has deep expertise across Blackstone’s commercial real estate credit investment strategies.  Mr. Johnson is a seasoned investor and has been with Blackstone since 2011.  He will continue as the Global Head of BREDS and Chair of BXMT’s Board.

Austin Peña, currently Executive Vice President, Investments of BXMT, has been named President and Director, and will continue leading the company’s investment, capital allocation, and balance sheet strategy.

Mr. Johnson said: “I’ve had the honor of serving as BXMT’s Chair and I am looking forward to building on BXMT’s momentum, including $2.6 billion in new investments last quarter and a nearly 20% YTD total return.  The team’s breadth and creativity enable us to source investments across channels and markets, unlocking value during a particularly compelling period.  The entire BREDS platform, which includes BXMT, has been incredibly active capturing this real estate credit environment, having deployed $38 billion since the beginning of 2024, and we expect that activity to continue across the business.”

Nadeem Meghji and Kathleen McCarthy, Global Co-Heads of Blackstone Real Estate, said: “The resilience demonstrated by our team in recent weeks has been nothing short of extraordinary.  We are fortunate to have a deep bench of talented colleagues with a relentless focus on delivering for our investors.  Katie and Tim both have invaluable leadership and investing experience that we believe will continue to drive strong performance across both businesses.”

All changes are effective November 10, 2025, with the exception of Ms. Keenan’s appointment as Global Head of Core+ Real Estate, which is effective immediately.

About Blackstone Real Estate
Blackstone is a global leader in real estate investing. Blackstone’s real estate business was founded in 1991 and has US $325 billion of investor capital under management. Blackstone is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally, owning and operating assets across every major geography and sector, including logistics, data centers, residential, office and hospitality. Our opportunistic funds seek to acquire undermanaged, well-located assets across the world. Blackstone’s Core+ business invests in substantially stabilized real estate assets globally, through both institutional strategies and strategies tailored for income-focused individual investors including Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (BREIT). Blackstone Real Estate also operates one of the leading global real estate debt businesses, providing comprehensive financing solutions across the capital structure and risk spectrum, including management of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXMT).

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “objective,” “indicator,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. These may include financial estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements about plans, objectives, intentions, and expectations with respect to positioning, including the impact of macroeconomic trends and market forces, future operations, and future performance and statements regarding identified but not yet closed acquisitions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe these factors include but are not limited to those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Annual Reports on Form 10-K of Blackstone Inc., BREIT and BXMT for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in their respective periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in the filings. Except as otherwise required by federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contacts
Jeffrey Kauth
Jeffrey.Kauth@Blackstone.com
(212) 583-5395

Categories: People

Wrike Appoints George Saadeh as Chief Revenue Officer

Stg Partners

Wrike, the intelligent work management platform, today announced the appointment of George Saadeh as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). This announcement comes as Wrike accelerates its mission to deliver measurable ROI for enterprises by driving scalable growth and lasting customer value.

“Enterprises today don’t just want software. They want measurable outcomes that transform how they work,” said Thomas Scott, CEO of Wrike. “George is a proven leader who knows how to scale revenue engines while keeping customer success at the center. With his leadership, Wrike will deliver even greater value from the first idea to enterprise-wide execution.”

“My teams are with customers every day, hearing what challenges they face and understanding what is needed to realize true business transformation,” said Saadeh. “They’re asking for solutions that eliminate bottlenecks, reduce project delays, and help their teams deliver faster. My role is to empower our sales and customer success teams to deliver solutions while guiding customers to realize value faster — through smooth implementation, confident adoption, and ongoing growth. We’re building a revenue engine that’s as focused on customer outcomes as it is on growth.”

Categories: People

Emerald Welcomes Back Cédric Mutz as Partner and Head of Portfolio Performance

Emerald

Zurich, Switzerland – Emerald Technology Ventures, a global leader in climate-tech venture capital, has announced the appointment of Cédric Mutz as Partner and Head of Portfolio Performance, marking his return to the firm at a pivotal stage in its growth.

Cédric is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in venture capital, corporate finance, and entrepreneurship. Having previously worked at Emerald early in his career, he rejoins the firm after holding senior positions in industry and M&A advisory.

In his new role, Cédric will be responsible for overseeing portfolio performance across Emerald’s funds, supporting founders and management teams. His appointment comes as Emerald has surpassed €1 billion in assets under management and advisory and expanded its suite of funds targeting climate technologies.

“Returning to Emerald feels both natural and energizing,” said Cédric Mutz. “The firm is at an exciting inflection point, with new funds, new mandates, and a growing international footprint. I look forward to helping our portfolio companies scale their impact while delivering strong performance for our investors.”

Emerald Managing Partner Gina Domanig welcomed the appointment, stating:

“We are delighted to have Cédric back at Emerald. He brings a unique combination of investment expertise, operational know-how, and international perspective. His leadership will be instrumental in ensuring the success of our portfolio companies and accelerating the commercialization of sustainable industrial innovation.”

Cédric’s appointment reinforces Emerald’s commitment to driving portfolio success through senior leadership. The enhanced management team also reflects Emerald’s rapid growth and its leading position in the expanding climate tech sector. With this team expansion, Emerald continues to evolve, staying well positioned as a trusted partner for corporates and startups worldwide.


Find out more about Emerald’s growth:

25 Years of Emerald: A Journey of Grit, Trust and Growth

Veralto Commits €20M to Emerald’s New Fund to Accelerate Water Innovation Solutions

How to Pick Winners for a Climate Tech Portfolio

About Emerald Technology Ventures

Emerald is a globally recognized venture capital firm, founded in 2000, that manages and advises assets of over €1 billion from its offices in Zurich, Toronto and Singapore. The firm invests in start-ups that tackle big challenges in climate change and sustainability, with four current funds, hundreds of venture transactions and five third-party investment mandates, including loan guarantees to over 100 start-ups.

This is Emerald.

Bold Ideas. Bright Future.  www.emerald.vc

CONTACT FOR EMERALD:

info@emerald.vc

Categories: People

Tags:

Steve Varley Joins Warburg Pincus as Senior Advisor

Warburg Pincus logo

Former Chairman and Managing Partner, UK&I, EY, Joins to Support European Industrials and Business Services Group

London, 17 September 2025 – Warburg Pincus, the pioneer of private equity global growth investing, today announced the appointment of Steve Varley as Senior Advisor. Mr. Varley will support the firm’s Industrials and Business Services group, with a focus on professional services opportunities, and companies at the intersection of services and technology. He will also engage across the broader Warburg Pincus platform globally, contributing to the firm’s value creation and deal origination capabilities.

Mr. Varley brings over three decades of experience in professional services, with a proven track record of leading and transforming multi-billion-dollar businesses. He currently serves as Chairman of Unity Advisory, a next-generation CFO advisory firm and Warburg Pincus portfolio company. Most recently, he served as Global Vice Chair, Sustainability at EY, advising some of the world’s largest companies on long-term value creation through sustainability initiatives. Prior to that, he was Chairman and Managing Partner, UK&I at EY, leading over 20,000 professionals and driving the firm’s growth and innovation. He also held several other senior leadership roles across EY, including Managing Partner for Consulting in Northern Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa, and served on both the EMEIA Executive Board and the Global Practice Group, helping to shape the firm’s global strategy.

“I have long admired Warburg Pincus’s thesis-led approach, global and growth-oriented mindset, and long-term investment philosophy,” said Steve Varley. “Having worked with the team first-hand through my role in Unity Advisory, I’m excited to continue working with Warburg Pincus to identify and grow exceptional businesses in the services space, particularly as technology and innovation continue to reshape the industry.”

“Steve’s deep sector expertise, global leadership experience, and strong relationships across the services ecosystem make him an invaluable addition to Warburg Pincus,” said David Reis, Managing Director, Industrials and Business Services, Warburg Pincus. “He has been a trusted advisor to CEOs, Boards and government, and his insights will help shape our investment theses and deepen our reach in high-growth segments of the services ecosystem.”

Mr. Varley has held numerous advisory and non-executive positions throughout his career, including as a business advisor to two Prime Ministers and a Special Advisor to the United Nations. In addition to serving as Chairman of Unity Advisory, he also chairs the boards of DWF Group and Liverpool Football Club Foundation.

Media contact:

Alice Gibb
Director, Europe Communications
Alice.gibb@warburgpincus.com
+44 207 306 3090

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of global growth investing. A private partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles. Today, the firm has more than $86 billion in assets under management, and more than 220 companies in their active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has invested in more than 1,000 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies

The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, São Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Categories: People

Wrike Appoints George Saadeh as Chief Revenue Officer

Stg Partners

Wrike, the intelligent work management platform, today announced the appointment of George Saadeh as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). This announcement comes as Wrike accelerates its mission to deliver measurable ROI for enterprises by driving scalable growth and lasting customer value.

“Enterprises today don’t just want software. They want measurable outcomes that transform how they work,” said Thomas Scott, CEO of Wrike. “George is a proven leader who knows how to scale revenue engines while keeping customer success at the center. With his leadership, Wrike will deliver even greater value from the first idea to enterprise-wide execution.”

“My teams are with customers every day, hearing what challenges they face and understanding what is needed to realize true business transformation,” said Saadeh. “They’re asking for solutions that eliminate bottlenecks, reduce project delays, and help their teams deliver faster. My role is to empower our sales and customer success teams to deliver solutions while guiding customers to realize value faster — through smooth implementation, confident adoption, and ongoing growth. We’re building a revenue engine that’s as focused on customer outcomes as it is on growth.”

Categories: People

Ratos announces change in the Management Team

Ratos

Ratos continues to, as previously announced, streamline the company towards a more focused set of business segments. In connection with this strategic realignment and the divestment of the business segment Construction Services, Christian Johansson Gebauer currently Head of the business area Construction & Services, has decided to leave Ratos.

The business area Construction & Services consists of the business segment Construction Services and Critical Infrastructure. During the first half of 2025, the sale of the ventilation company airteam was completed, as well as the listing of the construction group Sentia. Both Sentia and airteam were reported under the Construction Services segment. Following the listing, Ratos’ ownership stake in Sentia is 40%.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Christian Johansson Gebauer for his contributions at Ratos over the past eleven years. He has played an important role in Ratos’ journey towards becoming a more profitable and cohesive company group. Since 2020, Christian has been responsible for the Construction & Services business area, which has developed well under his leadership — not least the Construction Services segment, which Ratos has recently divested. I wish him all the best in his future career,” says Jonas Wiström, President and CEO Ratos.

Christian Johansson Gebauer leaves the Ratos Management Team as of today, 15 September 2025, and Ratos new Management Team consists of:

Jonas Wiström, President and CEO
Anna Vilogorac, CFO & IR
Katarina Grönwall, Vice President, Communications & Sustainability
Wilhelm Montgomery, Vice President of Strategy & Investments
Anders Slettengren, Executive Vice President
Magnus Stephensen, General Counsel

For more information
Jonas Wiström, President and CEO, Ratos, jonas.wistrom@ratos.com
Katarina Grönwall, Vice President Communications & Sustainability, Ratos,
+46 70 300 35 38, katarina.gronwall@ratos.com

Categories: People

KKR Appoints Mikael Markman to Lead Its Family Capital Client Business in France

KKR

Paris, 11th September 2025 – KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the appointment of Mikael Markman as a Managing Director within KKR’s Global Client Solutions business, where he will lead the firm’s Family Capital efforts in France. Based in Paris, Mikael will be responsible for expanding KKR’s presence among families, founders and entrepreneurs across French-speaking markets in EMEA, helping to deepen relationships and identify long-term opportunities for partnership.

Mikael joins KKR from Nomura in Paris, where he served as Managing Director and Head of French Sponsors. In that role, he advised both domestic and international financial sponsors on a wide range of M&A and financing mandates, working in close collaboration with family offices, founders, managers and private capital investors. Earlier in his career, Mikael held roles at Rothschild, Morgan Stanley, and UBS, serving in their Financial Institutions Groups across London and Paris.

Doug Brody, Partner and Head of Americas and EMEA Family Capital at KKR, commented:
“We are thrilled to welcome Mikael as our dedicated senior relationship lead for Family Capital in France and French speaking markets. His deep knowledge of the local market and trusted relationships with business owners, founders, managers and family offices will be instrumental as we continue to originate differentiated investment and capital markets opportunities and deliver tailored solutions across asset classes. Mikael’s appointment underscores our commitment to serving the evolving needs of family capital through aligned, long-term partnerships.”

Jérôme Nommé, Partner and Head of KKR France, added: “Mikael’s arrival comes at an important time as we continue to expand our Paris office and deepen our engagement with France’s family-owned businesses and entrepreneurial community. With more than two decades of experience in the French market, KKR remains committed to supporting local clients with global expertise, and Mikael will be instrumental in strengthening those long-term relationships.”

Mikael Markman, Managing Director and Head of Family Capital in France, said: “I am delighted to join KKR and to contribute to its successful Family Capital platform. The opportunity to collaborate with clients and colleagues across the firm, and to deliver bespoke, solutions-led partnerships to family offices and entrepreneurs, is incredibly exciting. I look forward to building meaningful, multi-generational relationships that reflect KKR’s long-term vision and global capabilities.”

KKR’s Family Capital business, established in 2014, partners with families, founders, and entrepreneurs to form long term partnerships with an ownership mindset. The platform originates investment and capital markets opportunities and offers access to KKR’s diverse global investment strategies, including private equity, real assets, credit and insurance.

Across France and Europe, KKR aligns its interests with clients by investing alongside them and providing access to the firm’s full global expertise – from investment professionals to a broad network of industry partners.

Mikael’s appointment reinforces KKR’s long-standing commitment to France, where it has maintained a local presence for over 20 years. Paris is a key European hub, underscoring KKR’s belief in the creativity and resilience of French entrepreneurs. Since 2002, KKR has invested over €10 billion in French businesses, supporting founders and families with flexible capital and global expertise to help scale operations, create jobs, and compete internationally.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

 

Media Contact

FGS Global

Charles O’Brien

+33 (0)6404 21348

KKR_France@FGSGlobal.com

 

Download PDF

Categories: People

Tags:

Bruce Hamilton to join CVC

CVC Capital Partners

CVC announces the appointment of Bruce Hamilton, who will be joining as Head of Investor Relations.

Bruce is a senior equity research analyst with over twenty-five years’ experience covering the European Financials Sector. He joins CVC from Morgan Stanley where he headed the Diversified Financials team, covering asset managers, private markets managers, exchanges and investment platforms.

Categories: People

Alantra strengthens its global Technology Investment Banking practice with the hire of Ed Wirgman as Managing Director

Alantra

London, 9 September 2025 – Alantra, the independent global mid-market financial services firm, has strengthened its Technology Investment Banking practice with the appointment of Ed Wirgman as Managing Director. Joining from Houlihan Lokey, where he was a Managing Director in the European Technology Group, Ed brings over 20 years of M&A advisory experience and has worked extensively across a range of Technology subsectors. During his career, he has advised large multinationals, Private Equity investors, and founder-owners on numerous sales, acquisitions, and fundraisings.

Based in London, Ed will work closely with Alantra’s global Technology team to advise clients in IT Services, Technology Consulting and Software, with particular focus on services-led businesses.

Prior to Houlihan Lokey, Ed was a Managing Director at Oakley Advisory and Head of TMT at Spectrum Corporate Finance, the largest independent corporate finance boutique in the South of England at the time. Earlier in his career, he spent a decade at KPMG, culminating in leading the TMT Corporate Finance group nationally.

This strategic hire underscores Alantra’s commitment to growing its global Technology practice by adding senior sector specialists and continuing to strengthen its presence across key hubs in Europe and the U.S. In the last year, Alantra’s global Technology team has advised on 18 transactions with a combined value in excess of €1.1bn, and comprises 40 members based in the UK, the U.S., Spain, Germany, France and the Nordics. Notable recent transactions include the sale of Sincera to Virtusa, the sale of SpearMC to Mythics and the sale of Newport Capital backed TDA Group to The Relevance Group.

Categories: People