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By Steve Johnson | 22 September 2017

Steven Okun, until recently KKR’s director of public affairs for Asia Pacific, has been appointed ASEAN representative for EMPEA, a global industry association for private capital in emerging markets.

Okun will be responsible for strengthening EMPEA’s footprint in emerging Asia, working as the regional advocate for private equity firms and other funds, their investors and service providers. The aim is to increase investment opportunities across Southeast Asia.

“Private capital investment opportunities abound in ASEAN markets; consequently, having a regional advocate with a deep industry network, market experience and knowledge of the asset class will serve EMPEA and our members well,” Robert van Zwieten, president and CEO of EMPEA, said in a statement.

As KKR’s first director of public affairs in the region, Okun spent more than six years covering government affairs, communications, stakeholder engagement, and environmental and social responsibility issues. Since leaving the firm, he has launched APAC Advisors, a Singapore-based consultancy that helps clients ranging from global corporations to social enterprises address issues relating to business, government, and sustainability.

Prior to joining KKR, Okun was head of Asia public affairs for aviation and trade at UPS. Earlier in his career, he served in the Clinton administration as deputy general counsel at the US Department of Transportation between 1994 and 1999.