Mr. Chudgar is a Partner in the Ares Credit Group, where he focuses on U.S. direct lending. Prior to joining Ares in 2011, Mr. Chudgar was Managing Director in the Sponsor Finance Group at CIT, where he focused on origination in the Midwest and was responsible for the structuring and execution of senior and junior debt financings for private equity sponsored leveraged buyouts. Previously, Mr. Chudgar worked at GE Commercial Finance, Accenture and Prudential Capital, where he focused on originating, structuring and executing senior debt, mezzanine and equity investments. Mr. Chudgar holds a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin in Accounting and Finance and an M.B.A. from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Mr. Chudgar is a CFA® charterholder.