Michael Schechter has joined Ares Management as partner and head of credit trading.

Based in Los Angeles, Schechter will oversee the trading of all bank loans, high yield and related credit instruments in the U.S. and Europe. He will work with Ares’ existing senior trading professionals, portfolio managers and management to set and execute Ares’ trading agenda.

“We are pleased to welcome Michael to Ares in his new position as the leader of our Credit Group’s trading team,” said Kipp deVeer, partner and head of the Ares Credit Group. “Michael brings extensive knowledge and deep experience within our markets, as well as a broad range of relationships across both buyside accounts and our sell-side counterparties.”

Schechter brings more than 16 years of experience in leveraged finance trading, sales and syndicate, most recently having served as managing director – Credit Trading for Morgan Stanley. Previously, he spent 15 years at Citigroup in various roles including co-head of U.S. Leveraged Loan Trading.