Global Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, Law Firm Partner, Federal Prosecutor
New York, NY
Holly Kulka is a globally respected executive, attorney, and governance leader. Over the course of her career, she has advised boards, executive teams, regulators, and global institutions through periods of significant market disruption, regulatory transformation, and organizational change.
Most recently, Holly served as Global Head of Risk & Compliance for S&P Global Ratings following the Global Financial Crisis. In one of the most scrutinized regulatory environments in modern financial history, she led a comprehensive transformation of the organization’s risk and compliance culture, restructured global teams, and re-established credibility and trust with regulators and market participants worldwide. She also strategized and implemented a best-in-class generative AI governance framework.
In parallel, Holly served as Chairman of the Board of CRISIL Ratings, India’s leading credit rating agency, where she worked closely with independent directors and executive leadership on governance, strategy, and oversight in one of the world’s fastest-growing capital markets.
Prior to S&P, Holly was Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of NYSE Euronext Intercontinental Exchange. Earlier in her career, Holly was a partner at the international law firm Heller Ehrman. She began her professional career as a federal prosecutor, developing a foundation in public service, investigative leadership, and legal strategy that would shape her later executive roles.
Holly earned her J.D. from University of Chicago Law School and her B.A. from Williams College. She is on the Board of Youth Volunteer Corps, a national non-profit dedicated to youth service. Holly is married to DCI Fellow Kevin Atteson. They have one son who will be a college Freshman as his parents also return to school (but no competition there!). Holly loves the outdoors, talking politics, learning new things and casual interactions with friends and acquaintances.
With Kevin Atteson
