KKR hires Temasek leader to head its Asia-Pacific growth equity investments
Douglas Appell
Mukul Chawla will join KKR & Co. in Asia as a partner and head of the investment firm's Asia-Pacific growth equity operations.
The position is new. Mr. Chawla will start Dec. 9 and will "lead and accelerate KKR's regional investment strategy into emerging, high-growth companies" in sectors such as technology, health care, financial technology and consumer-related areas, according to a KKR news release Thursday.
Mr. Chawla was managing director, joint head of global telecom, media and technology, and joint head of North America in the San Francisco office of Singapore government investment company Temasek.
During his time in the U.S. with Temasek, Mr. Chawla oversaw 39 technology buyout and growth investments, including Airbnb, Xiaomi, DoorDash, Roblox, Virtu Financial and Waymo, the release said.
A spokesman for Temasek declined to comment, beyond wishing Mr. Chawla well.
Additionally, the news release said Lucian Schonefelder, partner and head of technology investing at KKR Asia, is moving into the role of KKR adviser. In Mr. Schonefelder's new role, the 14-year KKR veteran will support the firm's next-generation technology investment strategy in the region and advise KKR's portfolio companies, the release said.