Toxic culture in Global Client Solutions group - Senior Associate Ares Management Employee Review

2.0
Sep 3, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Solid benefits. Generally respect leadership since the growth of european direct lending and real assets. Strong acquisitions recently.

Cons

Some MDs and partners were promoted because of their relationships with decision makers and not by any actual achievement. These MDs and partners tout the importance of positive culture but openly play favorites towards ‘yes’ people who curry favor and don’t provide any differing opinions. Managers create pointless projects to appear like they’re doing something meaningful. Juniors are overworked but offshore teams don’t seem to be doing much. Associates feel demoralized with no avenue to provide feedback and those who express interest in other internal roles are blackballed and shunned by their managers. Some low performing employees are not managed out but reassigned to less technical roles where they can fly under the radar. There is no transparency whatsoever but the group recently announced that promotions are on hold which removes any chances of career growth for deserving employees. The firm itself seems impressive but compensation actually isn’t.

Explore other reviews about Ares Management

5.0
May 11, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very collaborative culture with a strong connected leadership team; a high-growth organization that provides great opportunities for performing team members - many examples of strong mobility (employees growing through promotion as well as employees moving locations and teams). I have been with the firm for more than 5 years and it has been a completely positive experience - I've grown significantly in responsibility and compensation.

Cons

Nothing that comes to mind.

2.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Prestige, Good Benefits, snacks in the fridge Some teams are very good. Ideal for someone in their 40s or 50s who is looking for stability.

Cons

All teams are different at a company of this size, but working in the middle office technology team was the worst experience of my career. Day to day work was either completely free of directive or projects would be completely blocked by bureaucracy. When a project I was working on went well, there was no celebration and when it was late or had issues there was no reflection. The culture is going into work to a cubicle to sit in zoom meeting straight from nine to five or eating lunch alone each day in a ghost town office. Other teams will speak poorly of each other and gossip. My boss's boss was a bully and would threaten people constantly. Everyone I worked with was "living the dream", overworked and bored to death but making a ton of money. Every team outing they had in three years was just a golf simulator. It just doesn't have to be like this. We've moved on from this cubicle farm company since the 90s, work should be encouraging and fun. Unless you're looking for stability above all else, you can find a better place to work.

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