Eleena Melamed

Eleena Melamed is a Managing Director and Head of Strategic Operations. She is also a member of Carlyle's Operating Committee. Eleena is based in New York.

Prior to joining Carlyle, Eleena was most recently at KKR where she was the Head of Business Strategy for the Client and Partner Group and a Director in the Customized Portfolio Solutions Group. In addition to her business strategy focus, Eleena oversaw a portfolio of KKR's multi-asset Strategic Partnership Investments, including product design, portfolio construction, relationship management, and investment implementation. Prior to KKR, Eleena was at Bridgewater Associates where she was Chief of Staff to the Head of the Client Service Department and an Associate Client Advisor for the firm’s key strategic partners. Eleena began her career as an investment professional in Lehman Brothers’ Private Equity division. After Lehman’s bankruptcy, Eleena remained at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, where she worked on the restructuring and sale of Lehman’s Principal Investments, Private Equity, and Hedge Fund portfolios.

Eleena received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Columbia University where she graduated summa cum laude, phi beta kappa, and as Valedictorian of her class.

Eleena is a former ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre. She is currently the head of the Junior Board of Kaatsbaan, cultural dance park.