The Marque The Marque

Steve Koltes

Co-Founder

Graubuenden, CH


Steve Koltes
Veronica Kohlbecker
FF20
Marguerite Krikhaar
Skylla Group

Steve’s Biography

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

Steve joined CVC’s predecessor, Citicorp Venture Capital London, in 1988 and was one of a handful of executives 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 (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) 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 16 CVC companies, including most recently 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 companies. In this capacity,...
Steve Koltes is Co-Founder of influential private equity and investment advisory firm CVC. He stepped down from his active roles in October 2022 after 34 successful years at the forefront of the company but remains on CVC’s Board in a non-executive capacity.

Steve joined CVC’s predecessor, Citicorp Venture Capital London, in 1988 and was one of a handful of executives 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 (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) 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 16 CVC companies, including most recently 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 companies. In this capacity, he currently serves on the boards of Frontiers Media, Inait and Original Beans.

Steve is a member of CVC’s Philanthropy Committee, and he and his family support several conservation and academic organisations.

Steve holds a BA degree from Middlebury College in Vermont.
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Steve’s Newsfeed

Bloomberg
Inside CVC, the Secretive Buyout Firm Heading Into New Waters

Steve Koltes, Co-Founder of CVC, was mentioned in this Bloomberg article.

Financial Times
CVC co-founder Steve Koltes to step down as firm plans to float

CVC Capital Partners Co-Founder Steve Koltes is stepping down as the firm works on plans for a stock market listing.

Steve’s Background

CVC
Co-Founder
1988 - Oct 2022
CVC Capital Partners is a global leader in credit and private equity. Established in 1981, it has 25 local offices across the globe, 15 in the Americas and across Europe, and nine in the Asia Pacific region.
 
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.
 

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.
 
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Steve’s Education

Middlebury College
Bachelor of Arts