About me
Aren LeeKong is a seasoned business leader, entrepreneur, and investor with over 25 years of experience.
He is a founder of Nine Dean. He previously 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, Aren has focused on effective operational leadership across various roles. 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.
Aren values his time with his wife and two daughters and is an active member of the community. Together, they focus on initiatives aimed at improving educational opportunities and enhancing access to quality healthcare for underserved populations. Currently, he serves on the Advisory Board of The Family Center, an organization dedicated to providing essential social and legal services to New Yorkers facing family crises or loss. Furthermore, Aren's family established the Irene LeeKong Health and Wellness Center, which offers mental health services to children in Brooklyn. He has also served on the board of directors for Sponsors for Educational Opportunities, an organization that played a pivotal role in advancing his professional career.
