Aren LeeKong is a Founding Partner on the Nine Dean team. Mr. LeeKong is a business leader, entrepreneur, and investor with over 25 years of extensive experience. He most recently held the positions of Vice Chairman of Global Credit and Head of Direct Lending at Carlyle, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Carlyle Secured Lending (ticker: CGBD). ​

Throughout his career, Mr. LeeKong has focused on effective operational leadership. Notably, as Executive Chair of Organix Recycling, the leading pre-consumer food waste hauling company in the United States, he orchestrated a comprehensive turnaround that included significant financial, operational, and cultural transformations. These efforts resulted in substantial revenue and EBITDA growth, thereby ensuring the organization's long-term sustainability.​

Mr. LeeKong has also contributed his expertise as a member of the External Investment Advisory Committee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund. He previously served as Managing Director at Highbridge Principal Strategies (HPS) and co-portfolio manager for the Strategic Capital Partners strategy. Before joining HPS in 2011, he held senior leadership positions at KKR & Co. Inc. and Citigroup.​

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. LeeKong is actively engaged in his community. He values his time with his wife and two daughters, and together they participate in philanthropic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and improving access to quality healthcare for underserved populations. Currently, he serves on the Advisory Board of The Family Center, an organization committed to providing essential social and legal services to New Yorkers facing family crises or loss. Together with The Family Center, Mr. LeeKong’s family established the Irene LeeKong Health and Wellness Center, which provides mental health services to children in Brooklyn. He has also held a position on the board of directors for Sponsors for Educational Opportunities, an organization that played a pivotal role in advancing his professional career.​