Board of Managers
Chairman, Ares Manager
MATT CWIERTNIA
Matt Cwiertnia is a Partner and Co-Head of the Ares Private Equity Group. He serves on the Ares Executive Management Committee. He additionally serves as a member of the Ares Private Equity Group’s Corporate Opportunities, Energy Opportunities, and Special Opportunities Investment Committees.
Leonard Green & Partners Manager
JOHN DANHAKL
John joined LGP in 1995. Prior to LGP, John was a Managing Director in the Los Angeles office of DLJ, which he joined in 1990, and where he worked extensively with LGP as its lead investment banker. Prior to DLJ, John was a Vice President in corporate finance at Drexel Burnham Lambert from 1985 to 1990.
Chief Executive Officer, Independent Manager
ANN FANDOZZI
Ann Fandozzi joined Convergint as Chief Executive Officer in February 2024. This is her fourth CEO role, having previously served as CEO for RB Global, Abra Auto Body & Glass, and vRide—leading these companies through unprecedented transformation and growth. Prior to these roles, Ann held senior leadership positions at Whirlpool, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, and Lockheed Martin.
Ares Manager
JUSTIN ANDERSON
Justin Anderson is a Vice President in the Ares Private Equity Group. Prior to joining Ares in 2020, he was an Associate at KRG Capital Partners, where he focused on sourcing, executing and monitoring investments in the healthcare, industrial, and services sectors. Previously, Justin was an Analyst at Lazard, where he focused on mergers, acquisitions, and related strategic matters in the healthcare sector.
Harvest Partners Manager
STEPHEN CARLSON
Steve Carlson joined Harvest in 2010. Prior to joining Harvest, he was an Associate at DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Brockway Moran & Partners, where he focused on leveraged buyout transactions. Previously, Steve was an Analyst in the Corporate and Leveraged Finance group at CIBC World Markets where he executed transactions for the firm’s private equity clients.
Leonard Green & Partners Manager
USAMA CORTAS
Usama is Partner at LGP, which he joined in 2003. Prior to LGP, Usama worked at Morgan Stanley in its investment banking division in New York. He currently serves on the board of directors of Clarivate, ECI Software Solutions, Insight Global, and the parent entity of Convergint.
Harvest Partners Manager
STEVE FESSLER
Steve Fessler is a Partner at Harvest Partners, which he joined in 2013. Prior to Harvest, Steve was an Associate at CVCI, where he focused on leveraged buyout transactions in the business services sector. Previously, Steve was an analyst in the investment banking division of Jefferies & Co. where he executed mergers & acquisitions, debt financings, and restructuring transactions for public and private companies across multiple sectors.
Independent Manager
DR. JACQUELINE KOSECOFF
Dr. Kosecoff is a seasoned corporate executive and board member with special depth of knowledge in health services and technology. Kosecoff helped found and lead PE-backed companies, including Value Health Sciences and Protocare. She served as Executive Vice President of PacifiCare and was instrumental in its turnaround. Upon joining UnitedHealth, Dr. Kosecoff was appointed CEO of OptumRx with responsibility for United’s PBM, Specialty Pharmacy and Consumer Health Products.
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Leonard Green & Partners Manager
CHRIS MCCOLLUM
Chris joined LGP as a Partner in 2013. Prior to LGP, Chris was a Managing Director at Investcorp in its New York office, which he joined in 1996. Prior to Investcorp, Chris worked in leveraged finance at Chemical Securities.
Independent Manager
FELICIA THORNTON
Felicia Thornton has extensive executive experience in retail and services businesses, particularly in high-growth and transformative companies. Since February 2018, she has been the Vice-Chair of 99 Cents Only Stores, for which she was previously its Interim CEO, CFO, and Treasurer. She has also served as CEO for two large multi-billion dollar specialty retail and services companies.
Ares Manager
ABRAHAM ZILKHA
Abraham Zilkha is a Partner in the Ares Private Equity Group. Prior to joining Ares in 2008, Mr. Zilkha worked for the Boston Consulting Group, where he focused on advising financial services and consumer goods companies in the US and in Canada. Mr. Zilkha currently serves on the Board of Directors of Guitar Center Holdings, Inc. and the parent entity of Convergint Technologies.