Mary Beth Henson joined Ares Capital‘s board of directors as an independent director. The board was recently expanded from nine to 10 members, including six independent directors.

Henson served as CFO at the National Audubon Society, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats, from 2013 until 2021. Before that, she was vice president, finance for City Harvest, a food rescue organization in New York City, since 2008. Prior to joining City Harvest, Henson worked at Merrill Lynch for 14 years, where she co-founded the global retailing investment banking group, and at Chase Manhattan Bank for five years, where she held various commercial lending roles.

“With over 30 years of strategic and financial leadership experience across the public and nonprofit sectors, Mary Beth adds fresh perspective that complements our existing Ares Capital Board,” Michael Arougheti and Bennett Rosenthal, co-chairmen of the board of directors of Ares Capital, said. “We look forward to working closely with her as we continue to generate long term value for our stakeholders.”

“On behalf of the management team, we are very pleased to have Mary Beth join Ares Capital’s Board,” Kipp deVeer, CEO of Ares Capital, said. “We are confident that her deep financial acumen and extensive experience in management, leadership and strategy will add value to our Board of Directors for the benefit of our business and our stakeholders.”

“I am excited to join the Ares Capital Board and look forward to contributing my skills and perspectives as the company continues to build on its leading market position,” Henson said.