OLIVER HAARMANN

Financier, Philanthropist & Reese Witherspoon's Partner

The accomplished businessman behind the Hollywood spotlight

RELATIONSHIP UPDATE MAY 2025

REESE WITHERSPOON & OLIVER HAARMANN

Since mid-2024, Oliver Haarmann has been romantically linked to Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon.

Relationship Timeline

July 2024

First spotted together at L'Artusi restaurant in New York's West Village, arriving via helicopter [4,7](@ref)

September 2024

Confirmed dating after multiple sightings in New York City, including with Witherspoon's children [6,8](@ref)

May 2025

Touring luxury apartments near NYU campus, reportedly moving in together [1](@ref)

"Reese loves that he's a businessman and not into Hollywood. He's spending time with her kids too." [6,8](@ref)

- Insider source to People Magazine

PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

EDUCATION & EARLY CAREER

  • Brown University

    Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and History (1990) [2,3](@ref)

  • Harvard Business School

    MBA - Master of Business Administration (1996) [2,3](@ref)

  • KKR & Co. L.P.

    Senior Partner in London (1999-2010), helped build European operations [2,3](@ref)

SEARCHLIGHT CAPITAL PARTNERS

Position:

Founding Partner (2010-Present) [1,2](@ref)

Co-founded the private investment firm with operations in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. The firm manages over $10 billion in assets. [2](@ref)

Leadership Roles

  • Serves on Investment, Operating, and Valuation Committees [2](@ref)
  • Board member of portfolio companies including EOLO, Global Risk Partners, Ocean Outdoor, and Opus [1](@ref)

CAREER TIMELINE

1990

Graduated Brown University

Earned AB degrees in International Relations and History [3](@ref)

1996

Harvard MBA

Completed Master of Business Administration at Harvard Business School [3](@ref)

1999

Joined KKR

Became senior partner at KKR in London, helping build their European business [2,3](@ref)

2010

Founded Searchlight Capital

Co-founded private investment firm Searchlight Capital Partners [1,2](@ref)

2023

New York Islanders Investment

Became minority owner of the NHL team, purchasing 10% stake [1,4](@ref)

PHILANTHROPY & PERSONAL LIFE

PHILANTHROPIC WORK

Brown University Trustee

Serves on the Board of Trustees at his alma mater [2,3](@ref)

IntoUniversity Chairman

Chairs this educational charity providing support to young people in the UK [2,3](@ref)

Arts Patronage

Previously served on the board of a London arts organization (2012-2022) [4](@ref)

PERSONAL LIFE

Previous Marriage

Married to businesswoman Mala Gaonkar, with whom he has two children [1,4](@ref)

Surgo Foundation

Co-founded this privately funded action tank with his former wife [1](@ref)

Relationship with Witherspoon's Children

Spending time with Reese's sons Deacon and Tennessee [1,8](@ref)

NEW YORK APARTMENT SEARCH

In May 2025, Haarmann and Witherspoon were spotted touring a luxury property at Robert A.M Stern's residence building on Sixteen Fifth Avenue, fueling speculation they may be moving in together. [1](@ref)

"They are looking in the area because [one of her kids] is attending NYU and Reese wants to be close. They've toured the apartment twice already and were very sweet and affectionate at both tours." [1](@ref)

- Insider source to Page Six