Key Takeaways
- • KKR announced the opening of a Milan office on May 28, 2026, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Italy and expanding its European footprint across Private Equity, Real Assets, Credit, and Insurance divisions.
- • The firm has deployed over €10 billion in Italy since 2005, with major investments including FiberCop (Europe's first wholesale-only, open-access fiber network), Enilive (energy transition), and CMC (sustainable packaging), demonstrating deep sector expertise and sustained capital deployment.
- • Marco Fontana (Partner, Infrastructure team) will relocate from London to lead the Milan office, while Nicolò Della Casa (Director, Private Equity) will relocate to lead Private Equity operations in Italy, signaling senior management commitment to market expansion.
- • The Milan office reflects KKR's localization strategy targeting Italy's evolving investment landscape, including the firm's private wealth business expansion and deepened client partnership development in one of Europe's largest economies.
- • This expansion aligns with broader private equity industry momentum in Milan, where multiple buyout firms are establishing or expanding Italian operations to access cash-starved family-owned companies and develop closer ties with Italy's industrial base.
Summary
KKR announced plans to open a dedicated Milan office on May 28, 2026, marking a strategic expansion of the firm's Italian operations and reinforcing its commitment to one of Europe's largest economies. The office will support investment activity across multiple asset classes—Private Equity, Real Assets, Credit, and Insurance—while deepening client relationships and advancing KKR's private wealth business in Italy. This move reflects the firm's broader localization strategy as it capitalizes on opportunities within Italy's evolving investment landscape.
Italy represents a long-standing and substantial market for KKR, with the firm having deployed over €10 billion in capital across the country since 2005. The firm's Italian portfolio demonstrates deep sector expertise and sustained conviction in the market, including flagship investments in FiberCop (Europe's first wholesale-only, open-access fiber network), Enilive (a key player in Italy's energy transition), and CMC (a sustainable packaging company leveraging robotics for innovation). These investments align with KKR's strategic focus on partnering with businesses in sectors critical to long-term economic growth and supporting Italy's position as a central industrial and economic engine within Europe.
The Milan office will be led by Marco Fontana, a Partner in KKR's Infrastructure team, who is relocating from London to assume a leadership role. Nicolò Della Casa, a Director within KKR's Private Equity team, will also relocate to Milan to lead the firm's Private Equity activities across Italy. Supporting these leaders will be members of KKR's Client Solutions team, positioning the firm to drive expansion of local investment activities and client partnerships. Co-CEOs Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall endorsed the expansion, emphasizing Italy's significance to KKR's long-term strategic positioning.
This Milan office establishment reflects a broader competitive trend within the private equity industry, as multiple buyout firms, including competitors such as EQT, are establishing or expanding Italian operations to develop closer ties with Italy's private company base—particularly cash-starved family-owned enterprises seeking growth capital and strategic partnerships.
Italy represents a long-standing and substantial market for KKR, with the firm having deployed over €10 billion in capital across the country since 2005. The firm's Italian portfolio demonstrates deep sector expertise and sustained conviction in the market, including flagship investments in FiberCop (Europe's first wholesale-only, open-access fiber network), Enilive (a key player in Italy's energy transition), and CMC (a sustainable packaging company leveraging robotics for innovation). These investments align with KKR's strategic focus on partnering with businesses in sectors critical to long-term economic growth and supporting Italy's position as a central industrial and economic engine within Europe.
The Milan office will be led by Marco Fontana, a Partner in KKR's Infrastructure team, who is relocating from London to assume a leadership role. Nicolò Della Casa, a Director within KKR's Private Equity team, will also relocate to Milan to lead the firm's Private Equity activities across Italy. Supporting these leaders will be members of KKR's Client Solutions team, positioning the firm to drive expansion of local investment activities and client partnerships. Co-CEOs Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall endorsed the expansion, emphasizing Italy's significance to KKR's long-term strategic positioning.
This Milan office establishment reflects a broader competitive trend within the private equity industry, as multiple buyout firms, including competitors such as EQT, are establishing or expanding Italian operations to develop closer ties with Italy's private company base—particularly cash-starved family-owned enterprises seeking growth capital and strategic partnerships.
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