Ares Management Appoints James Garforth as Principal for Asia Direct Lending

Ares Management Corp. has appointed veteran capital markets executive James Garforth as a Principal in its Asia direct lending business, a move that strengthens the firm's private credit team in the region. Garforth will be based in Hong Kong, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters and confirmed by the company.

Key Appointment Details

In his new role, Garforth will report to Peter Graf, a Partner and the Head of Asia Direct Lending at Ares. The appointment signals the firm's continued focus on expanding its direct lending footprint across the Asia-Pacific market.

A company spokesman confirmed the details of the hire, which were initially outlined in an internal communication on Monday, Sept. 14.

Extensive Regional Experience

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Garforth brings a deep background in leveraged finance and capital markets from several prominent firms. His most recent position was at BGH Capital in Melbourne, where he had led the firm’s capital markets business since 2023.

His prior experience includes:

• A role at KKR Capital Markets in Sydney.
• Nearly a decade at Credit Suisse, where he worked in leveraged finance and financial sponsors groups in both New York and Sydney.

The memo noted that Garforth holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from the University of Queensland. This appointment adds a seasoned executive with experience in key regional financial hubs to the Ares team, enhancing its capabilities in a competitive private credit landscape.