Goldman Sachs alum joins Carlyle as head of their direct lending division
The Carlyle Group, a leading global investment firm, has announced the hiring of Alex Chi, a seasoned executive from Goldman Sachs, to lead its direct lending arm. Chi, who most recently served as co-head of Americas private credit at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, will join Carlyle in early 2026.
Chi's extensive experience in debt capital markets, corporate finance, and leveraged finance is expected to significantly boost the expansion of Carlyle's private credit offering. The appointment is part of Carlyle's strategy to accelerate the growth and impact of its global credit business, with Chi set to join the firm's leadership committee and hold the positions of partner and co-deputy investment chief for the $199 billion credit unit.
The expansion of Carlyle's private credit offerings is driven by the booming $1.7 trillion private credit market, which provides steady yields and diversification opportunities. Since early 2023, credit has grown from 46% to 51% of Carlyle's fee-earning assets, although direct lending remains a smaller portion of its business.
Carlyle views its $11 billion direct lending business as a "key component" of its private credit strategy, and Chi's expertise is expected to further enhance this growth. The hiring comes at a time when the private credit market is experiencing rapid growth, offering Carlyle a prime opportunity to capitalize on these trends and strengthen its position in the market.
While no specific details about Chi's role in the exploration of asset-backed finance opportunities in fintech lending are provided, it is worth noting that Carlyle has recently partnered with Citi to explore such opportunities. The exact nature of this partnership is not disclosed in the current announcement.
Chi's tenure at Goldman Sachs spans over 28 years, starting as a programmer analyst. His appointment at Carlyle marks a new chapter in his illustrious career, and he is eager to bring his expertise to bear in driving the growth of Carlyle's private credit business.
This appointment is not directly related to Carlyle and KKR's recent acquisition of a student loan portfolio. The focus remains on expanding Carlyle's private credit offerings to capitalise on the steady yields and diversification of the $1.7 trillion market, with Chi set to play a pivotal role in this endeavour.
Alex Chi's appointment at The Carlyle Group, with his experience in finance, will likely help in the strategic expansion of their private credit offerings, which is a key component of their business growth. His role at Carlyle also coincides with the rapid growth of the private credit market, allowing Carlyle to capitalize on these trends and further strengthen its position in the industry.
