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Tony Ressler

Co-Founder, Director & Executive Chairman

Ares Management Corporation

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Tony Ressler

Tony’s Biography

Tony Ressler is Co-Founder, Director & Executive Chairman of Ares Management Corporation, a publicly traded, leading global alternative asset management firm. With approximately $207 billion in AUM as of March 31, 2021. Ares operates three investment groups that invest in credit, private equity and real estate. Ares has approximately 1,445 employees with over 25 offices across the US, Europe, Asia and Australia. Tony has served on several boards of companies owned or controlled by Ares investment funds.

In the not-for-profit sector, Tony serves as as Co-Chair of the Board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and is one of the founders and former board member of the Painted Turtle Camp, which is affiliated with Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Association. Painted Turtle serves children dealing with chronic and life-threatening illnesses by providing memorable camping experiences.

In the public education sector, Tony is a Founder & former Chairman of the Alliance for College Ready Public Schools. Since 2004, the Alliance has grown to 28 free, public middle and high schools... Tony Ressler is Co-Founder, Director & Executive Chairman of Ares Management Corporation, a publicly traded, leading global alternative asset management firm. With approximately $207 billion in AUM as of March 31, 2021. Ares operates three investment groups that invest in credit, private equity and real estate. Ares has approximately 1,445 employees with over 25 offices across the US, Europe, Asia and Australia. Tony has served on several boards of companies owned or controlled by Ares investment funds.

In the not-for-profit sector, Tony serves as as Co-Chair of the Board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and is one of the founders and former board member of the Painted Turtle Camp, which is affiliated with Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Association. Painted Turtle serves children dealing with chronic and life-threatening illnesses by providing memorable camping experiences.

In the public education sector, Tony is a Founder & former Chairman of the Alliance for College Ready Public Schools. Since 2004, the Alliance has grown to 28 free, public middle and high schools serving approximately 13,000 students from LA’s poorest communities with historically underperforming schools. Four Alliance schools have been named California Distinguished Schools, and three are ranked in the top 10 of all Los Angeles Unified School District schools. More than 90% of Alliance graduates have gone on to college.

In June 2015, Tony led the acquisition of the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club and serves as its Principal Owner and Chairman of its Board of Directors. He also serves at a Senior Advisor to the Hawks Foundation, a not for profit organization focused on building bridges with the metro Atlanta community through basketball.

Tony holds a BSFS degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and received his MBA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Tony’s Newsfeed

Adweek

Ludacris and the Hawks' Tony Ressler on Atlanta's Rise to a Marketing, Music, and Sports Powerhouse

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PR Newswire

Tony Ressler to Headline Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series at the 2026 Hunter Conference

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Tony’s Background

Ares Management Corporation

Co-Founder, Director & Executive Chairman

1997 - Present

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Since its founding in 1997, Ares Management Corporation, a global alternative asset manager, has grown into one of the largest in the world, leading in three complementary market investment groups: private equity, credit, and real estate.

Atlanta Hawks Basketball Team

Principal Owner & Governor of the Board of Directors

2015 - Present

Atlanta, GA, USA

The Atlanta Hawks compete in the NBA's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The Hawks play their home games at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. ATL Investco, the owner of the Hawks, also owns the Atlanta Hawks Foundation, the Hawks Talon GC, and College Park Skyhawks.

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Tony’s Gallery

Tony Ressler american flag Brooklyn

Tony Ressler on a panel at delivering alpha

Tony Ressler at State Farm arena

Tony Ressler at Delivering Alpha

Tony Ressler at an Atlanta Hawks game

Current Board Positions

NBA Foundation

Board of Directors

Oct 2020 - Present

New York, NY, USA

The NBA Foundation's board of directors provides strategic direction for NBA programming and grantmaking activities and oversees the organization’s activities. It works with all 30 NBA teams to support and facilitate sustainable initiatives in team markets.

LACMA

Co-Chair, Board of Trustees

2005 - Present

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the western U.S., with a collection of nearly 140,000 objects illuminating 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Tony was named co-chair with Elaine Wynn in 2015.

Previous Board Positions

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Board of Directors

2009 - 2019

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center with over 2,000 physicians based in the Beverly Grove neighbourhood, LA.

Georgetown University

Board of Trustees

2014 - 2019

Washington, DC, USA

Georgetown University offers unique educational experiences as a world leader in both academic instruction and research.

Philanthropy

Alliance for College Ready Public Schools

Founder & Fmr. Chairman

Los Angeles, CA, USA

The Alliance for College Ready Public Schools operates and networks a number of small, high-performing high and middle schools in underserved communities in California. The Alliance aims to promote academic achievement and growth in underperforming schools in those communities and turn their students into the next generation of college-bound graduates.

The Promise Homes Company

Founding Partner | Investment Committee

2017 - Present

Atlanta, GA, USA

Launched in May 2017 and one of the largest collection of minority-owned institutional-quality, single-family rental properties in the U.S, The Promise Homes Company is focused on the working and middle class communities.

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Media

Hawks Raise $144,000 for Fifth Annual ‘Black History Month Assist Challenge’ to Support the Prostate Cancer Foundation

Mar 2023

The Atlanta Hawks Foundation presented a check of $144,000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) as a part of the team’s fifth annual Black History Month Assist Challenge.

Atlanta HBCUs get $2M gift from program backed by Hawks’ owner Tony Ressler

Jul 2022

Atlanta, GA, USA

This funding comes one year after a $90 million partnership with HBCUs was announced.

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Interviews

Hawks owner Tony Ressler on postseason success: 'The bar has gone up'

Jul 2021

Atlanta, GA, USA

Tony Ressler, principal owner of the Hawks, spoke on a range of topics including the memorable 2020- 2021 season, John Collins’ present situation, and maintaining success across the organization.

Ares co-founder Tony Ressler on Fed’s recent comments, inflation fears

Jun 2021

New York, NY, USA

On “Squawk Box,” the executive chairman and co-founder of Ares Management, Tony Ressler discusses the Federal Reserve’s revision of 2021 inflation expectations and its highly anticipated decision to leave interest rates unchanged.

Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler talks equity, ownership and returning to the playoffs

May 2021

Atlanta, GA, USA

Tony Ressler offers tips for small business owners and, speaks on growing into the role of an NBA owner, and discusses the excitement of the Hawks’ playoff return.

Tony Ressler on Georgia Senate Runoffs, NBA Covid Precautions

Dec 2020

New York, NY, USA

Tony Ressler, Ares Management executive chairman and principal owner and chair of the Atlanta Hawks, speaks with Bloomberg's David Westin on "Balance of Power" to discuss the Senate runoff elections in Georgia, the need for fiscal stimulus, and the NBA's Covid-19 precautions.

Tony Ressler on How to Ensure a More Equitable Recovery

Oct 2020

New York, NY, USA

Ares Management Executive Chairman Tony Ressler discusses early voting, economic inequality, and The Promise Homes Company. He speaks with Bloomberg's David Westin on "Bloomberg: Balance of Power."

Hawks Owner Tony Ressler on creating polling places

Aug 2020

GameTime invited Tony Ressler, owner of the Atlanta Hawks, to talk about how State Farm Arena became an example for other organizations across sports when it was transformed into a polling place.

Banks Are Well-Equipped to Handle 'Horrendous' Virus Crisis, Tony Ressler Says

Apr 2020

New York, NY, USA

On “Bloomberg Markets,” Tony Ressler of Ares Management speaks with Erik Schatzker about the improvements in the financial industry made since 2008 that allow banks to better deal with difficult events like the coronavirus pandemic than before financial crisis.

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Features

Ressler Gertz Family Foundation and Hawks Investing $40 Million in Atlanta, Bolstering Economic Empowerment in Black Community

Oct 2020

Atlanta, GA, USA

In partnership with the Atlanta Hawks, the philanthropic wing of Hawks owners Tony Ressler & Jami Gertz implemented a long-term and comprehensive plan that would provide Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Atlanta with financial, educational, and marketing resources as part of a drive to encourage greater economic opportunity.

Publications

Power of Ideas — Hope for 2021

Contributor

The Power of Ideas series organizes a diverse group of influencers centering around a single theme and invites global leaders to speak on subjects such as building meaningful lives and encouraging shared prosperity.

Awards & Recognition

Junior Achievement of Southern California

Hall of Fame

2022

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Since 1954, non-profit organization, Junior Achievement of Southern California (JASoCal) has been the leader in Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and Work-Readiness education, inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy.

Los Angeles Business Journal: LA500

Honoree, 2016-2025

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Each year, a collection of leading figures from the Los Angeles business community are honoured for their most important work with their inclusion on the LA500 list.

Speaking Engagements

Fortune Impact Initiative 2022

Featured Speaker

Nov 2022

Atlanta, GA, USA

This conversation, titled 'Off the Court', explored how Tony Ressler & Michael Render, two renowned philanthropic leaders, are finding solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges, such as financial literacy, access to capital and economic inequality.

M&A South 2021

Featured Speaker

Feb 2021

M&A South presents opportunities for deal makers such as senior lenders, intermediaries, corporate development officers, lawyers and accountants to meet with top private equity and mezzanine capital providers. It is considered the premier networking event for middle-market deal making and participants of all facets of corporate growth.

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Charitable Interests

The Greatest Generation Foundation

Supporter

Denver, CO, USA

The Greatest Generations Foundation is dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of veterans and ensuring that their legacies continue to live on and inspire.

Press Releases

Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler on $5B Gulch development: "We're full steam ahead"

Apr 2021

Atlanta, GA, USA

Tony Ressler, Principal Owner of the Atlanta Hawks, officially introduced Centennial Yards on April 27th. Ressler said the $5 billion redevelopment of the 50-acre historic “Gulch” area’s “Number one objective... is bringing true vitality to downtown,” and that the project would bring “business, entertainment, affordable housing and good jobs.”

Tony’s Education

Columbia University

MBA

Georgetown University

BSFS