Mr. Kaplan is a Co-Founder, Director and Partner of Ares Management Corporation. He serves on several Ares Investment Committees including, among others, the Ares Private Equity Group s Corporate Opportunities, Energy Opportunities and Extended Value Investment Committees. Additionally, Mr. Kaplan served as the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman of the board of directors of Ares Acquisition Corporation II from April 2021 to September 2025 and from January 2021 to November 2023, he served as Co-Chairman of the board of directors of Ares Acquisition Corporation. Mr. Kaplan joined Ares in 2003 from Shelter Capital Partners, LLC, where he was a Senior Principal from June 2000 to April 2003. From 1991 through 2000, Mr. Kaplan was a Senior Partner of Apollo Management, L.P. and its affiliates. Prior to Apollo, Mr. Kaplan was a member of the Investment Banking Department at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp. Mr. Kaplan currently serves on the supervisory board of directors of LuxExperience B.V., (f/k/a MYT Netherlands Parent B.V.). Mr. Kaplan also serves as a member of the board of directors of X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC and as the Chairman of the board of directors of the parent entity of Cooper s Hawk Winery & Restaurants. Mr. Kaplan s previous public company board experience includes Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Maidenform Brands, Inc., where he served as the company s Chairman, GNC Holdings, Inc., Dominick s Supermarkets, Inc., Stream Global Services, Inc., Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation, Smart & Final Stores, Inc. and Allied Waste Industries Inc. Mr. Kaplan also currently serves as Chairman of the board of directors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is on the board of trustees at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Mr. Kaplan sits on the President s Advisory Group of the University of Michigan, where he graduated with High Distinction, Beta Gamma Sigma, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, concentrating in Finance. Mr. Kaplan s knowledge of and extensive experience with leveraged finance, acquisitions and private equity investments, in addition to his service as a director of other public and private companies, position him well to serve on the Board.