KKR hires infrastructure veteran as a senior advisor

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts has added a former high-ranking port authority executive to its nascent infrastructure team as it continues to collect commitments for its debut $4 billion infrastructure fund. 

KKR hired Lewis Eisenberg, the co-founder of investment management company Granite Capital International Group, to the position of senior advisor to work with the firm's infrastructure group.

Eisenberg has served as general partner and co-head of the equity division of Goldman Sachs, was a co-founder of Granum Communications and, until 2007, was on the board of KKR portfolio company ITC, the nation’s largest independent electric transmission business.

In the public arena, Eisenberg chaired the New Jersey Commission on Privatisation and Public Contracting in 1994, and served as chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 1995 to 2001.

In announcing the hire, KKR founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts pointed to Eisenberg’s experience in infrastructure management, development and public planning as assets for the firm’s infrastructure team.

As it plans to go public in 2009, KKR has bolstered its resources for new revenue streams such as infrastructure. The firm is raising $4 billion for its debut infrastructure fund, and since May of last year has also hired Bill Bryson, John Brookout and Clint Johnstone as advisors. KKR also brought on former Skanska Infrastructure Development chief executive officer John Hipperson as a senior team member.

The appointment comes less than a week after KKR hired Suzanne Donohoe as managing director and global head of its client and partner group, which coordinates all of the firm’s fundraising activities. While many other firms have had to trim staff and infrastructure in the current marketing environment, KKR has appointed several senior advisors and division heads in the US and overseas.