Ares names James Garforth principal for Asia direct lending

An Ares Management logo at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters in California, U.S., July 31, 2026. REUTERS

HONG KONG, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Ares Management Corp (ARES.N), a global alternative ​investment manager, has appointed James ‌Garforth as principal in its Asia direct lending business, according to an ​internal memo seen by Reuters ​on Monday.

• Garforth ⁠joins from BGH Capital in ​Melbourne, where he had led the ​firm’s capital markets business since 2023. He will be based in Hong Kong ​and report to Peter Graf, ​partner and head of Asia direct lending at ‌Ares, ⁠the memo said.
• Before BGH, Garforth worked at KKR Capital Markets in Sydney. He also spent nearly ​a decade ​at ⁠Credit Suisse in leveraged finance and financial sponsors ​roles in New York and ​Sydney.
• Garforth ⁠holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from the University ⁠of ​Queensland, according to ​the memo.
• A company spokesman confirmed the details.

Reporting by ​Yantoultra Ngui; Editing by Rashmi Aich