Mehlman Leaves Akin Gump for KKR

In a prominent hire signaling that private equity firms will keep a continuing eye on Washington, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. has hired Ken Mehlman, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, to be its new managing director and head of global public affairs.

Mehlman is currently a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. He was not immediately available for comment. Joel Jankowsky, the head of Akin Gump's public policy group, says the firm is "very pleased for Ken. It's a great opportunity for him."

The firm has a transition plan, Jankowsky says, and has spoken to all of Mehlman's lobbying clients, a list that includes Dow Chemical, the NASDAQ stock exchange, and the Private Equity Council. He believes all - including KKR — will stay with Akin Gump. "We've had nobody indicate otherwise," he says. "We operate in teams. All the teams are in place."

Jankowsky says the firm will not actively be trying to replace Mehlman, who worked at Akin Gump before jumping to the RNC and later came back. "We hired him because we knew him and saw him as a great talent," Jankowsky says. "You can’t replace him, and we have no designs to do that."