GEORGE R. AYLWARD (61), Director since 2008. Mr. Aylward has served as President of the Company since November 6, 2006 and has been our President and CEO since January 1, 2009, when the Company became an independent public company. He joined the predecessor to the Company, Phoenix Investment Partners, Inc. ( PXP ), which was the majority owned asset management subsidiary of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. ( PNX ), in 1996. At PNX, Mr. Aylward served as President, Asset Management, and Senior Executive Vice President from February 2007 to December 31, 2008; Executive Vice President, Asset Management, from November 6, 2006 to February 2007; Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Asset Management, from 2004 through 2006, and Chief of Staff to the Chairman, President and CEO from 2002 through 2004. He also served in several senior financial positions at PXP prior to 2002. Since 2006, Mr. Aylward has served as President and Trustee of the Virtus Mutual Funds, having been Executive Vice President from 2004 to 2006; President (since 2010) and Trustee (since 2012) of the Virtus Variable Insurance Trust; Trustee and President of the Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust since 2013; Trustee and President (since 2024) of the Virtus Managed Account Completion Shares (MACS) Trust; Trustee and President (since 2024) of the Virtus Interval Funds; Director of the Virtus Global Funds, plc since 2013; Director (since 2023) of the Stone Harbor Investment Funds plc, Stone Harbor Global Funds plc and the Virtus Global Funds ICAV; and Chairman and Trustee of Virtus ETF Trust II since 2015. In addition, he serves as President, CEO and Director (or Trustee) of 12 closed-end funds managed by the Company s affiliated registered investment advisers. Mr. Aylward brings to our Board demonstrated leadership, extensive knowledge of and experience in the asset management and financial services industries, and superior executive management and financial skills as our CEO.