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Tom Finke

Chairman

Aimia Inc.

Charlotte, NC, USA

Thomas Finke

Liechtenstein Group

Alex Fitzgibbons

Thomas Finke’s Biography

Thomas Finke is a respected financial services executive currently serving as Chairman of Aimia Inc., a holding company that makes long-term investments in private and public businesses through controlling or minority stakes.

Thomas also serves as a Director of global investment firm, Invesco Ltd., and Alliance Entertainment Holdings. He previously served as Chairman & CEO of Adara Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) operating in the consumer products and services sector.

Tom has more than three decades of experience in the banking and investment industries and has led companies through some of the most difficult economic times in recent history. In December 2008, he was named Chairman & CEO of Babson Capital Management and EVP & CIO for Babson’s parent, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). In the wake of the Financial Crisis, he successfully oversaw the investing activities of MassMutual and led the expansion of Babson’s third-party asset management activities. He also served on the Board of Jefferies Finance, a joint venture between... Thomas Finke is a respected financial services executive currently serving as Chairman of Aimia Inc., a holding company that makes long-term investments in private and public businesses through controlling or minority stakes.

Thomas also serves as a Director of global investment firm, Invesco Ltd., and Alliance Entertainment Holdings. He previously served as Chairman & CEO of Adara Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) operating in the consumer products and services sector.

Tom has more than three decades of experience in the banking and investment industries and has led companies through some of the most difficult economic times in recent history. In December 2008, he was named Chairman & CEO of Babson Capital Management and EVP & CIO for Babson’s parent, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). In the wake of the Financial Crisis, he successfully oversaw the investing activities of MassMutual and led the expansion of Babson’s third-party asset management activities. He also served on the Board of Jefferies Finance, a joint venture between MassMutual and Jefferies & Co.

He led the 2016 merger of Babson Capital with three other subsidiaries of MassMutual that formed Barings, LLC: Baring Asset Management, Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers and Wood Creek Capital Management. Tom was named CEO and Chairman of Barings in September of 2016. Under his leadership, Barings’ assets under management grew from $271 billion to over $350 billion over four years and firmly established the firm as a leading global asset manager. Tom retired from Barings in November 2020 to join the Board of Invesco.

Early in his career, Tom was at the forefront of the development of the US leveraged loan and structured credit markets, including co-founding First Union Institutional Debt Management (IDM). He was also a founding board member of the Loan Syndication Trading Association (LTSA) and Structured Finance Association (SFA). READ MORE VIEW LESS

Thomas Finke’s Newsfeed

Financial Times

Aimia Announces Leadership Appointments

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Financial Times

Aimia Reports 2023 Results

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Thomas Finke’s Background

Aimia Inc.

Chairman

Oct 2023 - Present

Toronto, CA

Aimia Inc. is a holding company that makes long-term investments in private and public businesses through controlling or minority stakes. Its investments focus on private companies that possess consistent earnings, generate free cash flow and have catalysts for growth.

Adara Acquisition Corp.

Chairman & CEO

Jan 2021 - Feb 2023

Charlotte, NC, USA

Adara Acquisition Corp. is a special purpose acquisition corporation (SPAC) with expertise in and a focus on the consumer products and services industries.

Barings

Chairman & CEO

Dec 2008 - Nov 2020

Charlotte, NC, USA

Barings is a leading global investment management firm creating portfolios across fixed income, real estate and specialist equity markets.

MassMutual

EVP & Chief Investment Officer

Dec 2008 - May 2011

Boston, MA, USA

MassMutual is a life insurance company specializing in financial products including disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement planning services and annuities.

Babson Capital Management

President

Aug 2007 - Dec 2008

Charlotte, NC, USA

Babson Capital Management was a global investment management firm that specialized in private equity and venture capital. The company later merged with Baring Asset Management and other firms to form Barings.

Babson Capital Management

Managing Director | Head of US Bank Loan Team

Jun 2002 - Aug 2007

Charlotte, NC, USA

Babson Capital Management was a global investment management firm that specialized in private equity and venture capital.

First Union Institutional Debt Management

Co-founder, President & Managing Director

Sep 1998 - Jun 2002

Charlotte, NC, USA

First Union Institutional Debt Management was a financial services company focused on institutional investments in syndicated leveraged loan assets. In 2002, the company was acquired by Babson Capital Management. Babson later merged with Baring Asset Management.

First Union Capital Markets

Director | Head of Loan Trading

Mar 1997 - Sep 1998

Charlotte, NC, USA

First Union Capital Markets was the capital raising and acquisitions arm of First Union National Bank.

Bear Stearns

Vice President

Jun 1994 - Mar 1997

New York, NY, USA

Bear Stearns was a global investment bank, securities trading and brokerage firm. After the financial crisis of 2008, Bear Stearns was acquired by JPMorgan Chase.

Mellon Bank

Assistant Vice President

Jul 1991 - Jun 1994

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Thomas served as AVP on the Loan Syndications Desk, part of Mellon Bank's Capital Markets Group.

Westpac

International Banking Officer

Feb 1988 - Jul 1989

New York, NY, USA

Westpac Banking Corporation, known as Westpac, is an Australian financial services company with head office in Sydney, Australia.

First Union National Bank

Associate

Jun 1986 - Feb 1988

Charlotte, NC, USA

First Union National Bank was founded as Union National Bank in 1908. First Union and Wachovia merged to form the new Wachovia Corporation in 2001. Wells Fargo acquired Wachovia in 2008.

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Thomas Finke’s Gallery

thomas finke on cnbc

thomas finke speaking as part of a panel conference

thomas finke speaking at a conference

thomas finke speaking at a milken institute event

Tom Finke at the 2019 milken global conference

Board Positions

Invesco

Board of Directors

Dec 2020 - Present

Atlanta, GA, USA

Invesco is a global investment company with offices in 25 countries. It offers clients a range of single-country, regional and global capabilities across major equity, fixed income and alternative asset classes. Tom is also a member of the Audit, Nomination and Corporate Governance, and Compensation Committees.

Alliance Entertainment Holding Corp.

Board of Directors

Feb 2023 - Present

Sunrise, FL, USA

Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation ("Alliance Entertainment") is a distributor and wholesaler of the world’s largest in-stock selection of music, movies, video games, electronics, arcades and collectibles

Charlotte Center City Partners

Board Member

2014 - Present

Charlotte, NC, USA

Charlotte City Center Partners works to promote the economic, cultural, and residential development of the city's urban core. Its vision is for Charlotte’s Center City to be livable and sustainable, with modern infrastructure, unique neighborhoods, and a diversity of thriving businesses.

Davidson College

Board of Trustees

Jan 2022 - Present

Davidson, NC, USA

Established in 1837, Davidson College is a private liberal arts college situated in Davidson, North Carolina. Davidson prides itself in being hoe to a residential community of scholars and a learning institution that emphasizes a commitment to the highest levels of teaching and instruction.

National Math and Science Initiative

Board of Directors

Jun 2021 - Present

Dallas, TX, USA

The National Math and Science Initiative works with local, state and national partners to increase educational opportunities and empower better outcomes for all students. It has a firm belief that a STEM education is a clear pathway to accessing opportunity and unlocking student potential.

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Previous Board Positions

Loan Syndication & Trading Association

Founding Board Member

New York, NY, USA

The LSTA is the leading advocate for the US syndicated loan market and provides members with the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process and give input to establishing the standards for the loan market.

University of North Carolina | Belk School of Business

Board of Advisors

Charlotte, NC, USA

The Belk School of Business is one of the leading business schools in the Carolinas and offers programs at the undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and executive levels.

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Media

SPAC investing advice: Ex-Barings CEO Tom Finke

Featured Profile

Feb 2021

New York, NY, USA

Tom Finke discusses his transition from Barings to Adara, a new player in the SPAC world, while also outlining three characteristics investors should look for in an ideal blank-check company.

Barings CEO: People will take profits at the end of the quarter

Interview

Sep 2020

New York, NY, USA

Tom Finke, Barings chairman and CEO, joins "Squawk on the Street" to discuss the economy and market after the latest jobs numbers announcement for August.

2019 Milken Institue Global Conference: Tom Finke

Interview

May 2019

Beverly Hills, CA, USA

At the 2019 Milken Institute Global Conference, Tom Finke discusses where Barings is focusing its investments, what investors need to know in the current marketplace and the current trends and changes he sees in the future economy.

Barings: from collapsed royal bank to global asset manager

Featured Profile

Feb 2019

London, UK

Tom Finke was featured in this Financial Times article where he discussed his role at Barings and what he sees in the future for the company, notably its presence in Asian markets. He also discussed Barings' history, and how he got involved with the firm after stints at Babson Capital and Mass Mutual.

Barings' CEO Says Most Growth Will Be Organic

Interview

Aug 2017

New York, NY, USA

Thomas Finke, chairman and CEO of Barings, speaks to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn on "Bloomberg Markets" his Asia business strategy, investing in infrastructure and where he sees opportunities in the region.

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Speaking Engagements

Master Of Quantitative Management: Business Analytics & Master of Management Studies Graduation

Featured Speaker

May 2022

Durham, NC, USA

As an invited speaker at the commencement of his alma mater, Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, Tom offered insights and lessons from his time as an MBA student and his professional career. (Beginning at 31:50).

Fixing Housing in America

Panel Member

Oct 2020

At the 2020 Milken Institute Global Conference, Thomas Finke joins a group of distinguished panelists to discuss policy solutions for increasing access to affordable housing in underserved communities. This panel offers a wide-ranging discussion covering the local housing landscape, place-based investment and related solutions that can improve the lives of all Americans.

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Business Interests

Milken Institute

Attendee | Speaker

Santa Monica, CA, USA

The Milken Institute is a non-profit global organization that supports people to build meaningful and healthy lives. Tom has regularly attended, been a speaker and panel member at Milken Institute conferences over the past decade.

World Economic Forum

Attendee

Davos, CH

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, committed to improving the state of the world.

Community Engagement

Atrium Health Foundation

Member | Campaign Committee

Jan 2021 - Present

Charlotte, NC, USA

Since 1959, Atrium Health Foundation has worked toward the goal of advancing health-related issues, programs and services in the Carolinas that benefit all citizens. Thomas serves on the Campaign Committee for the second campus of the Wake Forest School of Medicine, which will be located in Midtown Charlotte.

Duke University | Fuqua School of Business

Board of Visitors

2018 - Present

Durham, NC, USA

The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University builds leaders who have the power to bring out the strength in others and guide teams toward a common purpose. Its diverse community of students and faculty from around the world thrive in a collaborative environment.

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Press Releases

Alliance Entertainment to Become an NYSE American Publicly Traded Company Via Business Combination with Adara Acquisition Corp. in $480 Million Transaction

Jun 2022

Charlotte, NC, USA

Tom Finke sees this as an opportunity for Alliance to continue its expansion of technological advancements, Direct-to-Consumer capabilities, and new consumer products.

Adara Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $100 Million Initial Public Offering

Feb 2021

Adara Acquisition Corp., a newly incorporated blank check company, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 10,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit.

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Thomas Finke’s Education

Duke University | Fuqua School of Business

MBA | Finance

1989 - 1991

University of Virginia

BS | Commerce

1982 - 1986