Steve Koltes

Steve Koltes’ Biography

Steve Koltes is Co-Founder and Honorary Co-Chair of influential private equity and investment advisory firm CVC. He stepped down from an active role in 2022 after 34 successful years at the forefront of the company but remains on CVC’s internal Board in a non-executive capacity.

Steve joined CVC’s predecessor, Citicorp Venture Capital London, in 1988 and was involved in the spin out of CVC in 1993. The firm has since become one of the world's largest private equity companies. Recent investments include Unilever's tea brands, IPL cricket franchise Gujarat Titans, and LaLiga.

Steve helmed CVC in the German-speaking region until 2008, when he stepped down from the role to dedicate more time to the firm's global executive bodies. While in Germany, he served on the boards of 15 CVC companies, including ista, Elster, Flint and Evonik.

Prior to CVC, Steve spent eight years at Citibank in corporate finance in New York, Zurich and London.

Steve and his family have private interests in a number of businesses under their investment company, Kaltroco Limited. In this capacity, he currently... Steve Koltes is Co-Founder and Honorary Co-Chair of influential private equity and investment advisory firm CVC. He stepped down from an active role in 2022 after 34 successful years at the forefront of the company but remains on CVC’s internal Board in a non-executive capacity.

Steve joined CVC’s predecessor, Citicorp Venture Capital London, in 1988 and was involved in the spin out of CVC in 1993. The firm has since become one of the world's largest private equity companies. Recent investments include Unilever's tea brands, IPL cricket franchise Gujarat Titans, and LaLiga.

Steve helmed CVC in the German-speaking region until 2008, when he stepped down from the role to dedicate more time to the firm's global executive bodies. While in Germany, he served on the boards of 15 CVC companies, including ista, Elster, Flint and Evonik.

Prior to CVC, Steve spent eight years at Citibank in corporate finance in New York, Zurich and London.

Steve and his family have private interests in a number of businesses under their investment company, Kaltroco Limited. In this capacity, he currently serves on the boards of Frontiers Media, Inait, CFeed, Original Beans and Thesify.

Born in Philadelphia, Steve lives with his family in Switzerland. He holds a BA degree from Middlebury College in Vermont. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Steve Koltes’ Background

CVC

Co-Founder & Honorary Co-Chair

1988 - Oct 2022

CVC Capital Partners is a global leader in credit and private equity. Established in 1981, it has 30 local offices across the globe.

Citigroup

Executive Officer

1980 - 1987

Citigroup is a renowned global bank serving 200 million-plus customer accounts. It conducts business in 160-plus jurisdictions and countries. During his Citi career, Steve worked in corporate banking and corporate finance in Zurich, London and New York.

Current Board Positions

CVC

Board Member

1988 - Present

London, UK

Steve has served on several CVC Boards, Operating Committees and the Investment Committees for CVC Europe/Americas, CVC Asia, CVC Growth Partners and CVC Strategic Opportunities.

Frontiers Media SA

Board Member

Lausanne, CH

Frontiers Media is a Swiss-based publisher founded in 2007 that operates a global, community‑run open-access platform for peer-reviewed scientific journals across hundreds of academic disciplines.

Inait

Board Member

Lausanne, CH

Inait is a Swiss tech company that builds advanced AI systems inspired by how the human brain works, helping machines learn, adapt, and make smart decisions in real time.

CFeed

Board Member

Trondheim, NO

CFeed is a Norwegian biotech company that produces and supplies high-quality, sustainably-farmed copepod eggs to improve the nutrition and success of marine larvae in aquaculture hatcheries.

Original Beans

Board Member

Amsterdam, NL

Original Beans is an Amsterdam-based craft chocolate company that produces organic, single-origin chocolate from rare cacao varieties. Each bar is carbon‑negative, supports farmers fairly, preserves rainforest biodiversity, and plants a tree for every bar sold.

Thesify

Board Member

Renens, CH

Thesify is an AI-powered writing assistant designed to help students and academics improve their essays, theses, and research papers by providing real-time feedback, structured suggestions, citation assistance, and resource discovery, all while promoting academic integrity.

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Previous Board Positions

Evonik Industries

Board Member

Evonik Industries AG is one of the largest specialty chemicals corporations globally and the second-largest in Germany. It employs 32,000 people worldwide.

Elster Group

Board Member

The Elster Group SE is a global provider of electricity, gas and water meters and related software, networking and communications solutions. It employs 7,500+ staff in 39+ countries across the globe.

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Press Releases

CVC Co-Founder Steve Koltes to step back in 2022

Jan 2022

CVC Capital Partners announced that Steve Koltes will step down in October 2022 after 34 years at the forefront of the company. He will continue to sit on its Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director.

CVC announces retirement of Chairman and appointment of Co-chairmen

Oct 2012

CVC announced that Chairman Michael Smith will be stepping down at the start of 2013. Steve Koltes, Rolly van Rappard and Donald Mackenzie will succeed him as Co-Chairs of the group. Steve will be taking over his Investor Relations responsibilities.