Private Equity Leader, Philanthropist, Author and Founder of MBK Partners
Michael B. Kim is a renowned investor and private equity leader committed to ethical inquiry and creating lasting value for the investors and companies he supports. Beyond finance, he is a dedicated philanthropist, shaping opportunities for his community through education and the arts. He is also a bestselling author, exploring cultural and moral journeys through fiction.
Michael B. Kim
Michael B. Kim began his career in finance more than 40 years ago, starting on Wall Street before founding private equity firm MBK Partners in 2005. Born in South Korea and educated in the United States at Haverford College and Harvard Business School, Kim has fashioned a global perspective on business, leadership and philanthropy.
Kim has been a pioneer in finance and private equity in particular. He has been dubbed “the Godfather of private equity in Asia.” He began his career in investment banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and later held senior roles at Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup. He then joined The Carlyle Group as president of Asia, helping develop the firm’s private equity platform in Asia.
During his time at MBK Partners, Michael B. Kim has led the firm’s growth to $32.7 billion in capital under management. MBK Partners has become the leading independent private equity firm in North Asia.
Philanthropy is central to Michael B. Kim’s values and leadership. His giving focuses on expanding access to education, supporting ethical leadership practices, advancing the arts and strengthening public institutions in both the United States and South Korea. Kim founded the MBK Scholarship Foundation in 2007, which has supported more than 200 students for their college education. Kim has also made major contributions to academic and civic institutions like Harvard Business School, where he served as a member on the Board of Dean’s Advisors. Kim is also an alum of Haverford College, where he is Chair of the Board of Managers. In 2010, Kim donated $7.5 million to build Kim Hall (in honor of his father, Ki Yong Kim) on the Haverford Campus; in 2024, he pledged a gift of $25 million to build the Kim Institute for Ethical Inquiry and Leadership. In 2021, Kim donated a gift of $27 million to help build the Kim ByungJu Public Library in Seoul. In 2022, Kim donated $10 million to build the Michael B. Kim & Kyung Ah Park Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. For these and other philanthropic efforts, Kim was named to Forbes Asia’s “Heroes of Philanthropy” list in 2021 and 2022.
Through his philanthropy, he seeks to create lasting opportunities for individuals and communities. Guided by a desire for enduring impact and ethical leadership, Michael B. Kim leads and supports institutions that foster civic responsibility, embrace diverse cultures and advance critical thinking.
In addition to his contributions to the business world, Michael B. Kim has made an impact in the literary world with his novel, Offerings, a national bestseller published in 2020. The coming-of-age story and financial thriller follows investment banker Dae Joon as he navigates the Asian Financial Crisis and familial tension. The result is what Malcolm Gladwell called “a beautifully wrought coming-of-age story of a young man torn between art and commerce, conscience and obligation.” Blending the turmoil of the financial crisis with Dae Joon’s emotional journey, Offerings explores themes of family loyalty, personal ambition and cultural expectations amid a backdrop of economic upheaval.
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