Antares Capital announced the recent appointment of Melina Higgins as independent board chairman, and the election of two new independent board members, Mark Furlong and Diane Nordin, to the Antares Midco, Inc. board of directors.
   
“Our new board members understand the middle market, possess a wealth of knowledge around private equity, asset management and debt markets, and have extensive board experience. We look forward to their insights and contributions,” said David Brackett, managing partner and co-CEO of Antares Capital.

Higgins has over two decades of experience in finance, investments and corporate governance. She spent nearly 20 years with Goldman Sachs, retiring in 2010 as a partner and managing director of the firm. While at Goldman, she was a member of the Investment Committee of the Principal Investment Area, which approved and oversaw global private equity and private debt investments, and was one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world. Higgins was also head of the Americas as well as co-chairperson of the global Investment Advisory Committee for the GS Mezzanine Partners funds. She was a founding member of the mezzanine funds and was instrumental in managing the business, which raised over $30 billion of capital and invested in over 100 companies during her tenure, making Goldman Sachs the world leader in the industry. While at Goldman Sachs, US Banker ranked Higgins as one of the Top 20 Women inFinance. Higgins also has vast board experience having served on the boards of over a dozen companies.

Furlong most recently served as president and CEO of BMO Harris Bank N.A., a position he retired from in 2015. He assumed the role in 2011 upon the acquisition of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (M&I) by BMO Financial Group. Furlong joined M&I in 2001 and was eventually elected chairman and CEO. Prior to joining M&I, Mr. Furlong held executive roles with Old Kent Financial Corp., H. F. Ahmanson & Company, Deloitte & Touche and KPMG. Furlong has extensive corporate board experience and has also served on many boards within the Chicago and Milwaukee communities.

Nordin is a retired partner of Wellington Management Company where she worked for 21 years in a variety of senior leadership roles within the global fixed income business, eventually retiring in 2011. Throughout her tenure, Nordin’s responsibilities spanned product management, client relationship management, and ultimately the oversight of Wellington's Fixed Income group where she presided over roughly 20 business teams and 130 investors globally. During her time at Wellington, Ms. Nordin served as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, the Derivatives Oversight Committee, the Operating Committee and the Compensation Committee. Nordin currently serves on several boards.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Melina, Mark and Diane to the board. Their combined experience and expertise will be a tremendous asset to Antares as we continue to build on our 20-year legacy as the leading provider of financing solutions to middle market private equity-backed companies,” said John Martin, managing partner and co-CEO of Antares Capital.

Antares Capital is a leading provider of financing solutions for middle-market, private equity-backed transactions with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Norwalk (Connecticut) and Toronto. Antares has provided more than $120 billion in financing over the past five years, and was named 2014 lender of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions. Antares also was recognized by Private Debt Investor and Private Equity International as 2013 Lender of the Year, North America and Mid-Cap Lender of the Year, North America, respectively.