James A. Henderson is the former CEO of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, where he played a crucial role in leading the company from 2017 to 2020. His career includes significant experience in real estate finance and investment. Before joining...

James A. Henderson is the former CEO of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, where he played a crucial role in leading the company from 2017 to 2020. His career includes significant experience in real estate finance and investment. Before joining Ares, he held important positions at Barings Real Estate Advisors, overseeing large-scale real estate debt investments. Henderson has a strong educational background with a Bachelor's degree from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA from Duke University. His military experience as a naval officer adds a layer of discipline and strategic thinking to his leadership style. During his time at Ares, Henderson received notable compensation in stock options, including over $629,000 worth of vested stock in 2020, highlighting his alignment with company performance. Notably, he resigned from his position as a director in 2020, emphasizing his commitment to meeting professional obligations. His background in both military and real estate sectors reflects a unique blend of skills in leadership, strategic management, and investment acumen, which he leveraged during his tenure at Ares.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Ares Commercial Real Estate CEOs

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James A. Henderson

CEO of Ares Commercial Real Estate

Education

B.S. from United States Naval Academy, M.B.A. from Duke University Fuqua School of Business

Field of Expertise

Real Estate & Construction - Real Estate

Sector of Economy

Real Estate

CEO of Ares Commercial Real Estate for

7 years 7 months (Oct 2017 - Present)

Previous Experience

Partner in Ares Real Estate Group, Co-Head of Real Estate Debt at Ares Management, leadership roles at Barings Real Estate Advisers

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of James A. Henderson

B

Katharine A. Keenan

CEO of Blackstone Mortgage Trust

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.17M

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$5.18M

C

Phillip J. Kardis II

CEO of Chimera Investment Corp.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.68M

Salary

$850.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$19.80K

Total Holdings

$6.46M

S

Andrew J. Sossen

CEO of Starwood Property Trust

2023 Compensation

Stock

$608.18K

Salary

$425.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$3.65M

R

Thomas E. Capasse

Founder and CEO of Ready Capital

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$2.41M

R

Michael Nierenberg

CEO of Rithm Capital

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.79M

Salary

$1.25M

Bonus

$10.00M

Other

$160.04K

Total Holdings

$27.00M

A

Anastasia Mironova

CEO of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

2023 Compensation

Stock

$149.99K

Salary

$329.84K

Bonus

$470.01K

Other

$50.42K

Total Holdings

$289.41K

Holdings

See how much did James A. Henderson make over time.

During his time at Ares Commercial Real Estate, James Henderson engaged significantly with company stock. In 2020 alone, he had a substantial vested stock worth $629,625. This could be considered an interesting twist, as he notably went from earning nothing...

During his time at Ares Commercial Real Estate, James Henderson engaged significantly with company stock. In 2020 alone, he had a substantial vested stock worth $629,625. This could be considered an interesting twist, as he notably went from earning nothing in 2019 due to a previous resignation, to having significant holdings just a year later. His compensation structure primarily revolved around stock options, emphasizing his stake in the company's future performance. At the pinnacle of his wealth accumulation during his tenure at Ares, he was heavily vested in real estate assets, reflecting his deep involvement in the industry. As he transitioned from CEO, his stock holdings remained a key component of his financial portfolio, showcasing his strategic focus on aligning personal and company performance.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of James A. Henderson.

No insider trades found for this CEO.

Compensation History

See how much did James A. Henderson make over time.

James Henderson's compensation as CEO of Ares Commercial Real Estate was closely tied to his stock holdings rather than salary. In 2020, he earned $629,625 solely from vested stock. This reflects the company's approach, focusing on equity to align leadership with long-term company performance. In 2019, he did not receive any compensation, which underscores the volatile nature of executive pay structures. For 2018, he received a total of $559,600 in stock compensation. His initial compensation in 2017 was over $1.1 million, indicating the company's strategy for retaining top talent. Throughout his tenure, his compensation shifted heavily towards performance-based stock grants, emphasizing results over traditional salaries.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$629.63K

Salary

$0.00

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aligns with company performance and aims to attract and retain top talent.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No cash bonus was awarded in 2020.

Other

$0.00

Board Justification

No other compensation was reported for 2020.

Restricted Stock

$629.63K(629.63K RSU)

Board Justification

The value of restricted stock that vested in 2020, calculated based on the grant date fair value of the awards.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics are based on the overall performance of the company and the achievement of strategic objectives.

Other Ares Commercial Real Estate CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Ares Commercial Real Estate

John B. Jardine

Ex-CEO of Ares Commercial Real Estate

August 2015 - October 2017