06.06.11: PEF announces Johannes Huth as new Chairman

06.06.11: Private Equity Foundation announces Johannes Huth as its new Chairman

Johannes Huth, Head of the European operations of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), has been appointed Chairman of the Private Equity Foundation (PEF). The philanthropic foundation provides financial support and pro bono business expertise to youth and children’s charities enabling them to scale up and help more disadvantaged young people. The Private Equity Foundation is committed to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Johannes Huth, a widely respected figure in the Private Equity community, has been a Trustee for PEF since March 2010 and has been selected by the Board of Trustees as Chairman.

Johannes Huth said: “Education is key to enabling young people to reach their full potential, and it is a right of which no child should be deprived.  I have been closely engaged with the Private Equity Foundation since the beginning and nothing could be more exciting than being asked to chair my fellow Board of Trusteesas they continue to facilitate the improvement of tens of thousands of young lives.”

Johannes succeeds Ramez Sousou (Founder & Co-CEO of Towerbrook Capital Partners) who has been Chairman since the Foundation was founded in 2006 and will continue as a Trustee. The Private Equity Foundation has supported over 40,000 disadvantaged young people through 18 charities since 2006. With over 70 supporter firms it has provided those charities with over 17,000 hours of pro bono support from the business community. This has enabled the charities identified as providing the best practice interventions for young people to grow and ensure more support for those most at risk.

Ramez Sousou said: “I am honoured to have led the Private Equity Foundation (PEF) since inception to  help and encourage those young people most at risk. Since 2006 the PEF community has supported over 40,000 young people providing a safety net of interventions both early on and throughout the critical school years. I look forward to continuing to do what I can to help more young people reach their full potential”.

The Private Equity Foundation’s core mission is to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) so they can reach their full potential. PEF recognises that young people face a journey from birthplace to workplace with numerous obstacles preventing them reaching their full potential. By offering a safety net of interventions throughout a young person’s life, PEF provides the holistic support disadvantaged children need to thrive in life and work.

Shaks Ghosh, Chief Executive of the Private Equity Foundation, added: “I would like to offer our sincere thanks to our outgoing Founder and Chairman Ramez Sousou, who has guided the Foundation from concept to delivery, supporting to date 18 charities working with disadvantaged children and young people. We could not have hoped for a better replacement than Johannes Huth, whose appointment will help ensure we continue to expand the excellent charitable work of the industry”.

For more information or for an interview please contact Joe Hewitt joe@privateequityfoundation.org 0845 838 7330

-Notes to editors –

Johannes Huth Biography

Johannes is Head of the European operations of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR). Transactions at KKR in which Johannes has participated include Wincor Nixdorf, Zumtobel, Demag Holdings, MTU Aero Engines, DSD, Selenia, Kion Group, NXP Semiconductors, Pro7 Sat1, BMG, Wild and INAER Aviation Group S.L

Prior to joining KKR in May 1999, Johannes was a Member of the Management Committee of Investcorp and jointly responsible for Investcorp’s operations in Europe.  While at Investcorp, he was responsible for developing several of Investcorp’s corporate investments in Europe.  From 1986 to 1991 he worked at Salomon Brothers, where he was a Vice President in the Mergers and Acquisitions departments in London and New York.

Johannes Huth is also a trustee of the Design Museum in London, the Städel Museum and the Campus of Excellence in Frankfurt. He sits on the board of governors at the London School of Economics.

The Private Equity Foundation

Private Equity Foundation (PEF) was established in 2006 to support children and young people in reaching their full potential. From birthplace to workplace, disadvantaged young people face numerous barriers to achieving at school, developing their skills and getting into high-quality employment. PEF works to develop and scale proven, highly effective interventions that remove these barriers, so that many more children and young people can be given a chance to succeed. PEF deploys both financial and pro bono skills resources from the private equity community to achieve a social return in line with our mission.

Over the last four year PEF has raised £20 million, found 18 high potential interventions that have supported 40,000 children and young people including

• 1,720 children struggling with literacy and numeracy in primary school
• 15,670 children unable to benefit from schooling because of significant psychological, emotional or family issues
• 16,060 teenagers needing additional support to progress into apprenticeship and further/ higher education
• 1,330 young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and lack the skills, qualifications, confidence and aspirations needed to achieve their potential