Private Capital

Millwood Hobbs Jr.

Oaktree, Managing Director & Head Sourcing and Origination

Mr. Hobbs leads Oaktree’s Sourcing and Origination group, which focuses on private credit sourcing and deal origination for the firm’s U.S. Private Debt, Global Private Debt, Special Situations and Global Opportunities strategies.  He also serves on the investment committee for Oaktree’s Direct Lending platform.  Prior to joining the firm in 2013, Mr. Hobbs was an executive director at Natixis Securities focused on building the high yield sales and trading franchise.  Prior thereto, he spent five years at Goldman Sachs as a vice president in leveraged finance origination and sales.  Before joining Goldman Sachs in 2007, Mr. Hobbs was a director in Leveraged Finance at Deutsche Bank Securities, which he joined in 2000.  Additional experience includes regional account management focused on fleet financing at GE Capital Corporation and controller for Leveraged Finance at Bank of America.  Mr. Hobbs received his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.S. degree in accounting from Rutgers University. 

Tyson Pratcher

Artemis, Senior Managing Director

Mr. Pratcher is a Senior Managing Director at Artemis, responsible for strategic initiatives. He joined in August 2023 and is based in New York City, bringing over 18 years of experience in alternative investments. He works with senior executives to establish the firm's strategic direction and leads fundraising and investing efforts.

Before Artemis, Mr. Pratcher was part of the leadership team that purchased and restructured Organix Recycling, a leading sustainable waste management provider. He previously served as Co-Head of Investments at a Middle Eastern multi-family office, overseeing teams in New York, London, and Hong Kong.

Mr. Pratcher spent 10 years at the New York State Common Retirement Fund, managing portfolios valued at approximately $8 billion. He created the Emerging Manager Program, which grew to over $8 billion and was recognized as the most innovative in the decade. He also served as Deputy State Director for Senator Hillary Clinton and worked at Davis, Polk & Wardwell.

Mr. Pratcher holds a B.A. from Hampton University and a J.D. from Columbia University. He co-founded the Harlem Jets and serves as an Independent Director at Finance of America Companies and the FS Credit Income Fund.

Aren LeeKong

Nine Dean LLC, Founder
Ex-Vice Chairman of Global Credit at Carlyle

Aren LeeKong is a seasoned business leader, entrepreneur, and investor with over 25 years of experience. He is a founder of Nine Dean LLC. 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). Prior to his tenure at Carlyle, Aren served as Chief Executive Officer and a principal investor of 7 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition company dedicated to achieving attractive risk-adjusted financial returns and a beneficial impact on the broader communities in which it operated. 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.