Paul Blank is the president and chief operating officer of Kayne Anderson. In this role, Blank co-manages the firm on a day-to-day basis, serves as the firm’s universal investment committee member across all investment strategies and is a member of Kayne Anderson’s board of directors. Blank manages the firm’s operating committee, comprised of the chief financial officer, general counsel, chief compliance officer, head of human resources and CFO of finance. Blank also works with each portfolio management team to maintain an integrated approach across the firm, providing insight into relative risk/reward across sectors, and strategic positioning. In addition to this broader role, Blank serves as the portfolio manager and capital allocator on cross-strategy strategic relationships and is responsible for the overall communications and public affairs strategy for the firm.
Blank joined Kayne Anderson in 1999, serving as the firm’s first energy analyst and was an integral part of the launch of the energy infrastructure platform in 2000. From 2003-2010, Blank left Kayne Anderson to launch a political/public affairs firm providing senior strategic counsel, media relations and campaign management to corporations, non-profits, unions, and political leaders worldwide. Blank helped pioneer the use of cutting-edge technologies in communications campaigns and served in leadership positions on two Presidential campaigns and as a senior adviser to Gov. Jerry Brown’s successful 2010 gubernatorial election. Blank rejoined Kayne Anderson in 2011 as the head of strategy with the objective to unify the investment, client relations, operational and administrative functions across the firm.
Blank earned a B.A. in Political Science from Duke University and is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy.
June 5, 2012