New Independent Directors Join Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp.

New York—Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp. recently appointed Rand April and James Skinner as independent directors to the company’s board.

Rand April

April is a retired partner of the international law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he practiced for more than 30 years and served as the managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office for 18 years. April has extensive real estate and finance experience across a wide variety of commercial real estate activities, including acquisitions and sales, restructurings, property development, leasing as well as public and private offerings of real estate-related equity and debt securities. Throughout his career, April has also represented real estate investment trusts in various operational and transaction-related matters.

Skinner has served in various leadership positions during his nearly 15-year tenure at Neiman Marcus Group, including as COO and CFO until 2015, when he transitioned to the role of vice chairman before retiring in 2016. Among other responsibilities, Skinner managed Neiman Marcus Group’s real estate-related activities. Skinner has also served in an executive capacity at other public and private companies, including as CFO for CapRock Communications Corp. and CompUSA Inc. Additionally, he served as a partner at Ernst & Young. Since 2007, Skinner has served on the Board of Directors of Fossil Group Inc. and is the chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. Skinner has extensive leadership experience as an executive of large organizations and experience in accounting, finance, capital markets, real estate, strategic planning and risk management.

“We are very pleased to have such highly-regarded and accomplished individuals join our board,” said Robert Rosen, chairman of the Board & interim Co-CEO of ACRE, in prepared remarks. “We believe their collective experience, guidance and insight will be invaluable to the future success of our business.”