Early Life and Education
Joseph Yong Bum Bae was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1973. In the 1970s, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in the New York area. This move exposed him to a new culture and language. Bae attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, before attending Harvard College. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in economics.
Rise to Success
Bae began his career as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs. He joined KKR in 1996, after a headhunter approached him, and played a critical role in the firm's expansion across Asia. He led KKR's first investment in China in 2006. In 2021, Bae was appointed co-chief executive officer of KKR, along with Scott Nuttall, succeeding the firm's co-founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts.
Key Business Strategies
As co-CEO, Bae oversees hundreds of billions in assets, setting the strategic direction for KKR. He spearheaded KKR's expansion into Asia, growing its offices, teams, and flagship funds. He's known for his global mindset, disciplined dealmaking, and leadership in talent building.
Philanthropy
Bae and his wife, Janice Y. K. Lee, are major donors to Harvard University. In 2021, they donated $45 million for Harvard's Asian American studies program. He co-founded The Asian American Foundation to support community initiatives.