Maria S. Rutledge

Chief Technology Officer

Maria Rutledge, the first Chief Technology Officer of Beneficient (Ben), is a senior thought leader with more than 23 years of Information Technology strategy and operations experience in running, growing, scaling, and transforming companies with technology solutions.

Ms. Rutledge has been with Ben for five years and is responsible for all of Ben’s proprietary systems, digital solutions, customized data management/artificial intelligent solutions, along with the entire robust application stack as Ben seeks to meet growing demand for early exit solutions and other services in the alternatives market.

Before being named CTO, Ms. Rutledge held the role of Executive Director, Technology. In her time at Ben, she has managed a team of more than 30 professionals and played a key role in building the infrastructure that powers the delivery of Ben’s unique liquidity solutions and overall customer experience. She has been instrumental in developing Ben’s technology, data, and cybersecurity architecture, and helping to automate each of Ben’s core business functions and streamlining various underwriting, risk management, and business development processes along the way.

Prior to Ben, she held roles of full responsibility in technology management and leadership at MUFG Investor Services, The Michaels Companies, Society of Petroleum Engineers, CompUSA, and XO Communications. From 2010 to 2021, Ms. Rutledge was on the faculty of the University of Phoenix.

Ms. Rutledge earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and a master’s degree and MBA from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, as well as holding multiple industry certifications.