Dean Kehler

Dean Kehler is a Founder and Managing Partner of Trimaran Capital Partners, and serves as Co-Portfolio Manager of Trimaran Corporate Opportunities Fund and a manager of Trimaran Fund II, an existing private equity fund which had a 1$ billion AUM at inception.1 Until February 2006, Mr. Kehler was a Vice Chairman of CIBC World Market Corp. and co-head of Leveraged Finance. Prior to joining CIBC World Markets Corp., Mr. Kehler was a co-founder and Managing Director of The Argosy Group L.P., an independent investment bank that focused on leveraged finance and restructuring advisory services. CIBC acquired The Argosy Group in 1995. Until February 1990, Mr. Kehler was Managing Director at Drexel Burnham Lambert and prior to 1985, was a Vice President of Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb.Mr. Kehler serves on the Board of Directors of KCAP Financial Inc., Inviva, Inc., and El Pollo Loco, Inc. He previously served on the Boards of Ashley Stewart Holdings, Inc., Charlie Brown’s Acquisition Corp., Continental Airlines, Global Crossing Ltd., Cole National Corporation, TLC Beatrice International, Hills Department Stores and Jefferson National Financial Corp. He is also Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee and a Director of CARE USA, one of the world’s largest private humanitarian organizations and the Chair of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Mr. Kehler graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics.