Key Takeaways
- • Ares Management appointed E.G. Morse, former Goldman Sachs China chief and co-head of China global markets, as partner and head of Asia credit based in Hong Kong, effective immediately.
- • Edwin Wong, the incumbent Asia credit head, will retire by June 30, 2026, marking a leadership transition at a critical juncture in Asia's credit markets.
- • Dinesh Goel and Gabriel Fong were simultaneously promoted to co-heads of the Asia special situations strategy, signaling organizational restructuring within Ares' Asia platform.
- • Peter Graf will continue leading Ares' direct lending strategy in the Asia-Pacific region from Sydney, ensuring continuity in regional debt capital operations.
- • The appointments strengthen Ares Management's global leadership bench amid continued institutional capital deployment in Asian credit markets.
Summary
Ares Management Corp. has appointed E.G. Morse as partner and head of Asia credit, based in Hong Kong, in a strategic leadership move announced on April 9, 2026. Morse, a veteran Goldman Sachs banker, replaces Edwin Wong, who will retire effective June 30. The hire reflects Ares' ongoing effort to fortify its Asia platform with senior talent experienced in navigating complex regional credit markets and cross-border transactions.
Morse brings extensive global experience from his tenure at Goldman Sachs, where he held senior leadership roles across multiple regions including New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai. Most recently, he served as co-head of China and head of China global markets at Goldman Sachs, positioning him with deep institutional networks and market expertise critical for Ares' Asia credit expansion. His appointment as a partner elevates his standing within Ares' organizational hierarchy.
Concurrent with Morse's appointment, Ares promoted Dinesh Goel and Gabriel Fong to co-heads of the Asia special situations strategy, diversifying leadership responsibility within the platform. Sydney-based Peter Graf maintains his role leading the firm's direct lending strategy across the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring operational continuity. These moves suggest Ares is rebalancing its Asia credit architecture to handle both standard and specialized investment mandates across the region's growing alternative credit universe.
The leadership reshuffle occurs as Asia's credit markets remain dynamic, with institutional investors and alternative asset managers competing aggressively for yield-generating opportunities. Morse's Goldman Sachs background in China markets positions him to capitalize on cross-border opportunities and the evolving regulatory environment in Asia's largest economy. The appointments underscore Ares' confidence in sustained capital flows into Asia-focused credit strategies among its limited partner base.
Morse brings extensive global experience from his tenure at Goldman Sachs, where he held senior leadership roles across multiple regions including New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai. Most recently, he served as co-head of China and head of China global markets at Goldman Sachs, positioning him with deep institutional networks and market expertise critical for Ares' Asia credit expansion. His appointment as a partner elevates his standing within Ares' organizational hierarchy.
Concurrent with Morse's appointment, Ares promoted Dinesh Goel and Gabriel Fong to co-heads of the Asia special situations strategy, diversifying leadership responsibility within the platform. Sydney-based Peter Graf maintains his role leading the firm's direct lending strategy across the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring operational continuity. These moves suggest Ares is rebalancing its Asia credit architecture to handle both standard and specialized investment mandates across the region's growing alternative credit universe.
The leadership reshuffle occurs as Asia's credit markets remain dynamic, with institutional investors and alternative asset managers competing aggressively for yield-generating opportunities. Morse's Goldman Sachs background in China markets positions him to capitalize on cross-border opportunities and the evolving regulatory environment in Asia's largest economy. The appointments underscore Ares' confidence in sustained capital flows into Asia-focused credit strategies among its limited partner base.
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