Karen H. Bechtel is a Managing Director and head of the Global Healthcare group based in New York.

Since joining Carlyle in 2005, Ms. Bechtel has invested more than $1.5 billion of equity in U.S. healthcare companies. She serves as a member of the Boards of Directors of HCR-Manor Care, MultiPlan and Lifecare.

Prior to joining Carlyle, Ms. Bechtel was at Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated for 28 years. As Managing Director of Morgan Stanley’s Private Equity Group, Ms. Bechtel was a member of the investment committee responsible for approving all investments in the $3.1 billion Morgan Stanley Capital Partners IV Fund and led all of the healthcare investments. Ms. Bechtel was also Co-head of the Financial Sponsors Group; head of the Corporate Restructuring Group; founder and head of Princes Gate Private Equity Investors, a $650 million bridge equity fund; and Managing Director in the Mergers and Acquisitions Department.

Ms. Bechtel previously served on the Boards of Directors of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc., Cross Country Healthcare Inc., Southern Care, Inc. and Lifetrust America, LLC.

Ms. Bechtel earned her M.B.A. from Harvard Graduate School of Business and her B.A. in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin where she was Phi Betta Kappa.