In 2008, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Company, a New York private equity firm, hired attorney and former political campaign manager Ken Mehlman to administer and head its Global Public Affairs unit.

The ex-chairman of the Republican National Committee is an associate at the Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld. The head of the Public Policy Group at Akin Gump, Joel Jankowsky, shared his comments and said that Akin Gump was delighted for Ken Mehlman and his new position. Jankowsky expressed his belief that Mehlman’s move to KKR is a good opportunity for him.

He added that the Akin Gump firm planned some changes for the company and conversed with all of Ken Mehlman’s lobbying clients: the NASDAQ stock exchange, the Private Equity Council as well as Dow Chemical. All of his clients, including Kohlberg Kravis, will stay with Akin Gump and function in teams, he said.

Ken Mehlman will not be replaced by the firm despite his new job at Kohlberg Kravis, Jankowsky further said. “We hired him because we knew him and saw him as a great talent. You can’t replace him, and we have no designs to do that.”

Mehlman’s job as head of the firm’s global public affairs is a new position.

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