Paul J. Salem

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mr. Salem is a Senior Managing Director Emeritus of Providence Equity, a world-leading private equity firm specializing in the media and communication industries. He served for 27 years as a senior managing director on Providence Equity’s investment team and served as a member of the investment committee and management committees helping grow Providence Equity from $171 million in assets to over $50 billion in his years of service. In 1999, Mr. Salem established the London office for Providence Equity and in 2008 helped start Providence Equity’s credit affiliate Benefit Street Partners. In 2014, Mr. Salem led the purchase of Merganser, a Providence Equity affiliate and in 2017, helped start Providence Public, a long/short hedge fund.

Mr. Salem served as a director on many of Providence Equity portfolio companies, including Asurion, Eircom, Grupo TorreSur, Madison River Telecom, MetroNet (formerly AT&T Canada), PanAmSat, Tele1 Europe, Verio, Wired Magazine and several others. He received a BA from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mr. Salem currently serves as Chairman of the Board for MGM Resorts International, one of the largest integrated resort and casino operators in the world. MGM is at the forefront of the digital transformation and growth of real-money wagering in the U.S. as both online sports betting and casinos become legal in an increasing number of states. This role provides Mr. Salem unique insight into the traditional entertainment aspects of gaming, as well as the secular trend of digital sports gaming that has been accelerated by COVID-19. Mr. Salem is also Chairman of the Board of MGM Growth Properties, a real estate investment trust. In addition, Mr. Salem is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Salem Capital Management, a family office in Providence, Rhode Island focused on private equity and growth equity investments across media, technology, and consumer industries, and serves on the boards of Dentex Health, Recognition Media, Lola Restaurant Group, and Edesia Global Nutrition.

Mr. Salem also serves as Chairman of the Board of Year Up, a national nonprofit that helps close the opportunity divide for urban young adults, Chair of the Board of Moses Brown High School and member of the advisory board of Brown University’s Carney Institute for Brain Science.