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Managing Director, Head of Sports Lending

Juan focuses on direct lending as well as Ares' Sports, Media, and Entertainment strategy. Before Ares, he was the Head of Sports, Media, and Entertainment at 777 Partners and also worked in Investment Banking at BofA Merrill Lynch. 

Roland “Champ” Bailey, Jr. is best known as a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the greatest cornerbacks ever to play the game. However, he now spends his time as a businessman, founder, investor, philanthropist, speaker, and television commentator. He is a two-time nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field. He played for the University of Georgia, the Washington Redskins, and the Denver Broncos. The stellar reputation he built as a diligent, detail-oriented leader who modeled high performance extends to his many business interests. His vision is to make a lasting impact in the community by creating sustainable jobs that change lives.

Founder & CEO of Georgia Entertainment

From the creative and entertainment capital of the world, Georgia Entertainment is the leading source of news, analysis, and commentary for the film, broadcast, digital production, arts, music, and gaming industries.

Head of Entertainment & Media Lending

Jordan oversees the firm’s Media & Entertainment origination. He leads all facets of Variant’s investment process, including sourcing, due diligence, structuring, negotiation, legal documentation, and monitoring. Prior to joining Variant in 2020, Jordan held roles at several brokerage firms and investment management groups.

Jezlan is a National Television Host and media personality. From runways to red carpets, she has experience in celebrity news and entertainment, covering Hollywood premieres, award shows, press junkets, exclusive studio, and satellite media tours. She created the streaming talk show network EverTalk TV and served as Executive Producer and Host of the first live-streamed daily talk show, Good Morning LaLa Land, as seen on Apple TV & ROKU. Another career highlight includes hosting the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' official red carpet at the Emmys.

Laura is an Emmy and Critics’ Choice producer. She founded Esme Grace, a production and finance company that streamlines the filmmaking process. Previously, she ran production at Untitled Entertainment, worked at Miramax, and began her media career with CNN. She is a a member of BAFTA, the PGA, Producers United, The Television Academy, Film Independent, and Women in Film. Her filmography includes The Tale (HBO Films), Mr. Malcolm’s List (Bleecker Street/Universal), JC Chandor's Oscar-nominated Margin Call and All Is Lost (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions), and Michael Mann’s Ferrari (NEON).

Mr. Sidari has over a decade+ of media and entertainment investment and related operating experience having served as a senior investment professional at Raven Capital Management managing certain royalty, film & TV development, production, financing, domestic distribution & foreign sales activities, music publishing, live entertainment and intellectual property investments. 

Mr. Sidari oversaw the day-to-day operations of Open Road Films following Raven’s acquisition of the legacy operator from bankruptcy in 2018. He subsequently spearheaded the auction process, deal negotiation and legal documentation for the sale of the catalog to a sponsor backed strategic distributor in 2024.

Prior to Raven, Mr. Sidari served as a Media & Communications Sector Analyst with BNP Paribas' Corporate & Investment Banking group. Mr. Sidari began his career within Wells Fargo's Commercial Banking Group where he focused on the underwriting, structuring and monitoring of senior debt transactions involving middle market and asset-based companies in addition to supporting the bank's sports lending practice.  

Mr. Sidari received a BBA in International Business and Economics, summa cum laude, from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and is a CFA charter holder.