Kenneth Katz serves as TAU’s Managing Director and Head of Asia Investments, bringing 18 years of private equity and direct investment experience in control, minority, turnaround and distress situations, as well as senior executive roles in portfolio companies. Dedicating most of his investment career to global emerging markets, Ken has resided in Asia for 14 years and is currently based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining TAU, Ken served as the Executive Chairman and CEO of Global Beauty International, a private equity-owned retail business with a pan-Asian presence in 14 countries. Ken lead efforts to rebuild and reposition this 25-year old group that had pioneered the Asian beauty and wellness category.

Previously, Ken headed private equity activities for Lazard Asia Investments with particular focus on managing a $300 million Asia regional, distressed asset portfolio. Driving strategic focus and guiding various business restructurings, Ken successfully led multiple exits generating above-market gains. Prior to Lazard, Ken joined Emerging Markets Partnership, manager of the AIG Infrastructure Funds, with $6 billion under management. While based in Singapore with EMP, Ken led Asia deal teams in Southeast Asia, Korea, India and China originating, executing and managing investments across sectors including power generation, oil & gas, transportation & logistics, energy distribution, telecommunications, heavy manufacturing and agribusiness. Ken also had responsibilities for regional investor relations and investor reporting. Before joining EMP, Ken spearheaded and managed the Asia Pacific direct investment business for Edison Capital as its Singapore-based Head of Asia Pacific Investments. Ken launched the firm’s first Asian office and managed its direct investment team, originating and overseeing equity, quasi-equity, mezzanine and other structured investments across multiple industries including power generation, chemicals, telecommunications, water treatment and healthcare facilities. He was a member of Edison’s Global Investment Committee and also led regional reporting, administration, corporate compliance, and government relations functions. Ken began his investment career in commercial real estate principal investments at Weyerhaeuser Company, where he had responsibilities for a multi-state real estate portfolio.

Ken has served on the board of directors of publicly listed firms in the United States and Hong Kong and on the boards of numerous private companies. He has also served as an Asia advisor for US-based multinationals. As a principal investor, Ken acquired, expanded and successfully exited from an Asia regional food manufacturing company. Ken earned his MBA with high distinction from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and his BA in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.