Head of Global Public Affairs, Kravis Kohlberg & Roberts

Ken Mehlman is perhaps best known as the Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2007, but Ken Mehlman’s career goes far beyond politics. Ken Mehlman has served as an attorney, philanthropic board member, public policy spokesperson, civil rights advocate, and environmental activist.

Ken Mehlman received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1991. Ken Mehlman was a classmate of future American President Barack Obama. He became a member of the bar for both the District of Columbia and Maryland.

Ken Mehlman practiced environmental law for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld from 1991 to 1996. This experience proved to be invaluable when he later become the voice of a new environmental movement in private equity investment. During these formative years, Ken Mehlman also gained experience in politics when he actively campaigned for politicians in five states, including two Presidential campaigns and William Weld’s successful bid for governor of Massachusetts. Ken Mehlman served as Congresswoman Kay Granger’s (TX-12) Chief of Staff and Lamar Smith’s (TX-21) Legislative Director.

Ken Mehlman’s politics can be best described as fiscally conservative and socially progressive. As the RNC Chairman, Ken Mehlman surprised both liberals and conservatives during an address to the NACCP when he publicly apologized to African-Americans for the failure of the Republican Party to reach out to them. “Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization,” Ken Mehlman said. “I am here as Republican chairman to tell you we were wrong.” Ken Mehlman went on a vigorous campaign to court African-American votes. At a forum of the National Association of Black Journalists, Ken Mehlman said the Republican Party “won’t be whole again” until more African Americans aligned themselves to the GOP. He declared tax cuts, home ownership, education reform, and private retirement accounts were in line with the concerns with of the black community.

After he resigned from the RNC Chairmanship, Ken Mehlman returned to Akin Gump, but he was eventually hired away from private equity firm Kravis Kohlberg & Roberts. At KKR, Ken Mehlman was able to pursue his original passion of environmental activism. In his newly created position of Head of Global Public Affairs, Ken Mehlman has championed a synergy between profitable business and environmental stewardship. Ken Mehlman is the voice of KKR’s innovative Green Portfolio Project. Since 2007, KKR and the Environmental Defense have worked together to encourage environmental business practices. The two organizations created a set of tools and metrics to measure “environmental performance areas,” such as greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water management, and use of toxic substances. Ken Mehlman said these initiatives were “good examples of how smart companies can cut costs and support the environment.”

In addition to his work with KKR, Ken Mehlman is a social activist and philanthropist. He serves as a trustee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Franklin & Marshall College, and the Strong American Schools Foundation. Ken Mehlman is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Council on Foreign Relations Climate Change Task Force, and the National Endowment for Democracy. Staying true to his vision of racial harmony, Ken Mehlman holds an executive leadership cabinet position for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation.