Ajay Kavan Joins KKR as a Senior Advisor in Europe
KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announces the appointment of Ajay Kavan as a Senior Advisor in Europe, effective immediately. Based in London, Mr. Kavan will support KKR’s pan-European investment activities in technology and digitally-enabled businesses and will advise KKR’s portfolio companies. In particular, he will focus on the consumer internet sector in eCommerce and direct-to-consumer offers, as well as companies undergoing major digital transformation programmes.
Ajay most recently served as CEO of Matches Fashion, where he supported the business through the impact of the pandemic, strengthened the leadership team and improved customer experience, technology and operational performance. Prior to joining Matches he spent nine years in senior roles at Amazon including VP International Special Projects, VP Amazon Fresh International and VP UK Consumables. He was responsible for launching Amazon Fresh across Europe and Asia, developing strategic partnerships with retailers (including Morrisons in the UK), developing its international physical stores, led Amazon’s subscription businesses across the EU and scaled Amazon businesses across multiple categories. Ajay has over 20 years of online experience and prior to Amazon, he led the launch of the online channels and multi-channel capabilities for three different retail businesses. Previous roles included Marketing and Strategy and Multi-channel Director roles within Home Retail Group plc and Kingfisher plc. Ajay is also the Vice Chair of In Kind Direct, a UK charity that distributes consumer goods to charitable organisations globally.
KKR’s Senior Advisors bring leadership skills, knowledge-sharing and deep industry expertise. They help drive value creation by providing advice and best practice to KKR’s investment teams and the executives, entrepreneurs and management teams of its portfolio companies. Mr. Kavan’s appointment follows that of TMT Senior Advisors Diego Piacentini in 2019, and Adam Warby in 2020.
Tim Franks, Partner and Head of EMEA Consumer & Retail at KKR, Jean-Pierre Saad, Partner and Head of EMEA Technology at KKR, and Philipp Schaelli, Principal in EMEA Private Equity at KKR, said: “Ajay will be a fantastic resource for our executives and our portfolio company management teams, bringing decades of experience in digital transformation, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer product development. He joins at an exciting time for KKR’s technology investment platform in Europe, with digitalisation a critical part of every business’ strategy and operational agenda.”
Ajay Kavan said: “KKR builds strong relationships with founders and management teams and has a track record of supporting them to deliver exceptional value creation. KKR is deeply committed to continuing to build its technology platform and I’m really excited to work with the KKR team and with leaders in their portfolio companies.”
KKR has invested over $25bn in tech companies in the past ten years across over 140 investments. Since the start of 2020, KKR has made over 20 tech investments globally, investing over $5bn in equity. Major recent EMEA technology investments include Cegid, Exact, Devoteam and Zwift.
--ends--
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management and capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of The Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210621005048/en/
Contact information
Media Contact: International
Alastair Elwen / Sophia Johnston
Finsbury Glover Hering
Telephone: +44 20 7251 3801
Email: kkr@fgh.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Xsolla Partners With Deloitte Turkiye and Lorien Accelerator as Category Sponsor for Gaming Awards at Fast 50 Türkiye 2025 Program7.11.2025 20:11:00 EET | Press release
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Gaming Awards segment at the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Türkiye 2025 Program, organized in collaboration with Lorien Accelerator. The event will take place on December 10, 2025, and will recognize Turkey’s top high-growth companies across various industries, with a special focus on the dynamic gaming sector. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251107671030/en/ Graphic: Xsolla As the Gaming Awards category sponsor, Xsolla will receive significant brand exposure through prominent logo placements across all event materials, including digital platforms, official event signage, and other promotional materials. In addition to this visibility, Xsolla’s participation includes an exclusive opportunity to engage in a panel discussion focused on Turkey’s rapidly growi
Takeda Presents New Data Showing Mezagitamab (TAK-079) Sustained Effect on Kidney Function 18 Months After Treatment in Primary IgA Nephropathy7.11.2025 18:00:00 EET | Press release
Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) today announced new interim data from the Phase 1b, open-label, proof-of-concept study of subcutaneous mezagitamab (TAK-079), an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody with disease-modifying potential, in primary immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. Data from the study showed that kidney function (eGFR) remained stable in patients with IgA nephropathy through Week 96 – up to 18 months after the last mezagitamab dose.1 The results were presented at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2025 in Houston. IgA nephropathy is a lifelong progressive autoimmune disease often diagnosed in young people aged 10-30 years old that causes irreversible damage to the kidney function.2 It has no cure, and despite available treatments, approximately one in five patients experience renal failure within 10 years of diagnosis.3 By depleting cells that produce an abnormal protein called Gd-IgA1 implicated in the pathogenesis, mezagitamab targets early steps in the process lea
Oremus Corporate Services Expands into Europe with Launch in Finland7.11.2025 17:23:00 EET | Press release
Oremus Corporate Services Private Limited, a multinational Finance and Accounting Advisory firm having its offices in the USA, India and the UK, has announced the extension of its services to Finland, marking the company’s foray into the European market. With over two decades of expertise in accounting, payroll, tax compliance, and advisory services, Oremus has earned trust as a technology-driven finance partner serving clients across geographies. Oremus is an ISAE 3402, ISO 27001, GDPR & DPDP Compliant Company, adhering to International Quality and Security Standards. “Finland isn’t just a new market for us — it’s the gateway to meaningful, growth-driven partnerships across Europe”. said Lalit Ananth Chawla, CEO of Oremus. Having established a strong reputation for delivering reliable Accounting and Advisory solutions to scale-ups and growing businesses, we seek to collaborate with like-minded firms and investors to build a trusted growth ecosystem. Our vision is to offer technology-d
Experian Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Identity Verification in Financial Services 2025 Vendor Assessment7.11.2025 16:00:00 EET | Press release
Experian today announced it has been named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Identity Verification in Financial Services 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc # US52985325, September 2025). The report evaluates vendors on the depth and breadth of their identity verification capabilities and on how effectively they align with current and future customer needs. The IDC MarketScape methodology for this assessment involved two key measures of success: capabilities that reflect Experian’s current menu of services and how well aligned they are to its customer needs as well as strategies that indicate how well Experian’s future strategy aligns with what customers will require in three to five years. “This assessment offers a 360-degree view of our identity-verification solutions, and we’re very proud to be recognized as a leader,” said Keith Little, President of Experian Software Solutions at Experian. “Experian continues to listen to our clients and focus heavily on product development across
Rachelle Alexis Lim is appointed CEO of MultiSafepay as the Company Aims to Better Serve European SMEs with Innovative Solutions7.11.2025 15:12:00 EET | Press release
MultiSafepay, a leading European payment service provider, today announces that Rachelle Alexis Lim has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MultiSafepay. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251107657130/en/ Rachelle Alexis Lim is appointed CEO of MultiSafepay. In her new role, Lim oversees the overall business strategy and operations of MultiSafepay, leading the company to serve a fast-growing client base of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in Europe, leveraging innovative solutions to drive their inclusive growth. She now also sits on its board of directors, following approval from the Dutch central bank, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). Founder Olaf Geurs, who has served as CEO since establishing MultiSafepay in 1999, will remain Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Geurs will continue to serve on the board of directors, where he and the other existing members will be joined by Lim. In his
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom