Joseph Y. Bae

Joseph Y. Bae is the co-chief executive officer of KKR & Co. Inc., a leading alternative asset management firm overseeing a global platform with approximately $638 billion in assets under management. Bae serves as co-CEO alongside Scott Nuttall, succeeding KKR founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts. He is the first Korean American to hold a top corporate position in the private equity industry, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of global finance.

Bae attended Phillips Academy before earning his bachelor's degree from Harvard College. He joined KKR after a brief period at Goldman Sachs, having deferred enrollment at Harvard Business School to pursue the opportunity. Bae and Nuttall began their careers at KKR as analysts at age 24, progressing through the firm's ranks over subsequent years. Bae became a partner after several years with the firm.

Bae played a central role in KKR's Asia-Pacific expansion, relocating to Hong Kong as the firm's sole employee in the region. Under his leadership, KKR Asia became one of the firm's most successful regional operations, completing high-profile deals such as the acquisition and exit of Oriental Brewery in South Korea and carve-out transactions with Japanese conglomerates including Panasonic and Hitachi. In addition to developing KKR's Asia-Pacific platform, Bae led business building in the firm's private markets businesses, serving on investment committees and implementing a modern thematic investment approach. Prior to his current position, he served as co-president and co-chief operating officer and has been a member of the board of directors of KKR & Co. Inc.

Alongside Nuttall, Bae has overseen KKR's transformation from a traditional leveraged buyout firm into a diversified global asset manager with investments across private equity, real estate, credit, infrastructure, and other sectors. Bae has appeared on platforms such as Goldman Sachs' "Talks at GS" series, discussing global markets, investment opportunities, and efforts to address anti-Asian discrimination.

Beyond his investment career, Bae is active in philanthropy and civic leadership. He co-founded The Asian American Foundation to support initiatives combating discrimination, promoting civic engagement, and advancing education and leadership development for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bae and KKR leadership established a global relief fund to support frontline medical workers, food security, and small businesses. Bae serves on the board of The Asian American Foundation, is a member of Harvard University's Global Advisory Council, a Fellow of the Harvard Corporation, and serves on the Lincoln Center Board and Executive Committee, reflecting his involvement in educational and cultural institutions.