Steve Kemps, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of S&P Global, is set to retire at the end of this year. Kemps has been a pivotal figure in the company’s legal and compliance operations, overseeing legal affairs, corporate risk and compliance, global security, and government affairs.
Before joining S&P Global, Kemps held significant legal positions, including Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Quanta Services, General Counsel at Hess Retail Corporation and Dean Foods Company, and senior legal roles at Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Dorsey & Whitney. He also served as a Federal Law Clerk to Judge Paul A. Magnuson of the United States District Court, Minnesota. Kemps earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, and holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate.
During his tenure at S&P Global, Kemps played a crucial role in navigating the company through complex legal landscapes, particularly during the merger with IHS Markit in 2022. His leadership was instrumental in integrating legal operations and ensuring compliance across the expanded organization.
As of now, S&P Global has not announced a successor for the Chief Legal Officer position. The company is expected to initiate a search process to identify a suitable candidate to fill this critical role.
Kemps’ retirement marks a significant transition for S&P Global’s executive leadership team, following the appointment of Martina L. Cheung as President and Chief Executive Officer in November 2024. Cheung, who previously led S&P Global Ratings, has been with the company for over 14 years and has held multiple leadership roles, including President of S&P Global Market Intelligence and Chief Strategy Officer. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving growth and innovation within the company.
The departure of Kemps and the recent leadership changes underscore a period of transformation for S&P Global as it continues to adapt to the evolving financial services landscape. The company remains committed to maintaining its strong legal and compliance framework to support its global operations.