Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co has appointed Makram Azar as managing director and head of Middle East and North Africa, responsible for developing the distribution of KKR products in the
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co has appointed Makram Azar as managing director and head of Middle East and North Africa, responsible for developing the distribution of KKR products in the region and sourcing opportunities for private equity and infrastructure transactions in selected situations.
He will also explore global co-investment opportunities with local institutions. Azar will set up an office for KKR in the region and will begin to recruit professionals to support this new initiative.
KKR co-founder Henry R. Kravis and George R. Roberts say: ‘Makram’s extensive experience in the Middle East and North Africa, coupled with his deep knowledge of investors in the region, will allow us to enhance KKR’s presence there. This is a key region for KKR and will further extend our global reach and resources.’
Azar says: ‘The Middle East and North Africa is a rapidly developing market, and I look forward to building KKR’s franchise in the region with a team of world-class professionals to identify investment opportunities.’
Azar spent 18 years at Lehman Brothers, most recently as a managing director, global head of sovereign wealth funds and chairman of media investment banking for Europe and the Middle East, based in Dubai. Previously he headed Lehman’s media, consumer and retail investment banking businesses in Europe and the Middle East.
Established in 1976, KKR is a sponsor and manager of funds that make private equity investments in North America, Europe and Asia from offices in New York, Menlo Park, San Francisco, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney.
In July KKR announced it would go public through the acquisition of KKR Private Equity Investors, a permanent capital fund listed on Euronext Amsterdam that invests in KKR-identified investments. It also sponsors KKR Financial and the KKR Strategic Capital Funds, which invests in debt transactions.
