Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Petraeus Turns to Private Equity

"Petraeus joins equity firm as chairman" May 31, 2013

NEW YORK — Retired Army General David Petraeus will take a job with investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. as he attempts to rebuild his reputation after an extramarital affair with a biographer triggered his resignation as CIA director last fall.

How symbiotic it is that a general who directed invasions and occupations now works for a company that is known for hostile takeovers.

Petraeus, 60, will serve as chairman of the New York firm’s newly created KKR Global Institute. He was CIA director from September 2011 until last November. Before that, Petraeus served about 37 years in the Army, where he rose to the rank of four-star general.

Petraeus served as commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan and also commanded forces in Iraq in 2007 and 2008, when violence in that country dropped following a surge in US forces.

KKR said Thursday that Petraeus will support its investment teams and portfolio companies when studying new investments, especially in new locations. The company did not detail terms of its agreement with Petraeus, but a spokeswoman said he will serve in a consultant’s role.

Petraeus has a doctorate from Princeton University and has written widely on international relations, military strategy and tactics, and national security issues. He also has taught economics and international relations at the US Military Academy.

Petraeus will add the new job to a couple of teaching assignments, at the University of Southern California and Macaulay Honors College at City University of New York.

KKR said the global institute will help it focus on issues that can affect its global investments.

Those include public policy, regulatory, and technology trends.

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