Partner, Co-Head Private Credit, Co-Portfolio Manager CAPIX, Aksia

Tim is a Partner and Co-Head of Private Credit and has over 25 years of experience in alternative investments, with a primary focus on private markets and credit. He oversees the global private credit investment research platform and works with a broad group of global investors focused on the private credit asset class. His team focuses on sourcing, screening, evaluating, and monitoring credit-oriented investments accessed across a variety of structures, including primaries, co-investments/directs, and secondaries.

Prior to joining Aksia, Tim helped manage and invest capital for a credit-oriented secondary investment fund manager called Frontier Capital (“Frontier”). Transaction types reviewed and completed included direct loan portfolio purchases, individual credit purchases on a secondary basis, indirect credit portfolio and single name portfolio purchases, fund liquidations/claims, and NAV loans. Prior to that, Tim worked for GSC Group, focusing on two credit-based funds including the firm's distressed corporate credit and structured credit strategies. Notably, Tim helped raise capital for a distressed structured credit vehicle in the wake of the financial crisis. Tim started his career working on various investment banking, financial advisory, and valuation assignments for a range of corporate and PE sponsor clients.

Tim graduated from Boston College with a BS in Finance and Information Systems (dual degree). He holds an MBA in Corporate Finance and Law and Business from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University with specializations in Corporate Finance and Law and Business. He is a CFA charterholder.

Partner, Co-Head Private Credit, Co-Portfolio Manager CAPIX, Aksia

Josh is a Partner and Co-Head of Private Credit and has over 16 years of experience in alternative investments. He leads the private credit global investment business, overseeing due diligence for direct credit/co-investment, secondary, and select primary fund opportunities. Josh also works with global investors focused on private credit, guiding strategic portfolio construction and management, while offering tailored investment decision advice. Josh serves on several private credit advisory boards.

Additionally, Josh is a key thought leader at Aksia where he directs initiatives across functions, including marketing, structuring, and legal. Prior to his current role, Josh was integral in establishing Aksia’s private credit platform, leading investment efforts in private real estate credit and structured credit. He started his career at Aksia in 2008 and is a member of the Private Credit and Real Estate Co-investment Investment Committees.

Josh graduated with honors from the University of Chicago with a BA in Economics.

John Calamos is Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer of Calamos Investments, the firm he founded in 1977. With origins as an institutional convertible bond manager, Calamos Investments has grown into a global asset management firm with institutional and individual clients worldwide. Headquartered in the Chicago metropolitan area, the firm also has offices in New York, San Francisco, Milwaukee and the Miami area.

Mr. Calamos established research and investment processes centered around a team-based approach designed to deliver superior risk-adjusted performance over full market cycles through a range of U.S. and global investment solutions including equity, fixed income, convertible and alternative strategies. As a pioneer in convertible securities, Calamos launched one of the first convertible funds in 1985 as a way to manage risk for clients in volatile times. He also established one of the first liquid alternative funds in 1990, reflecting a focus on innovation that continues to this day. Mr. Calamos has built a reputation for using investment techniques to control risk, preserve capital and build wealth for clients over the long term.

With more than 50 years of industry experience, he is often quoted as an authority on risk-managed investment strategies, markets, and the economy. He is a frequent speaker at investment conferences around the world and appears regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg TV and Fox Business Channel. He has authored two books, Investing in Convertible Securities: Your Complete Guide to the Risks and Rewards and Convertible Securities: The Latest Instruments, Portfolio Strategies, and Valuation Analysis.

Prior to entering the investment industry, Mr. Calamos served in the United States Air Force. During the Vietnam War, he served as a Forward Air Controller, with responsibilities for guiding accurate air strikes and preventing injuries to friendly troops. His squadron was the first to fly the Cessna O-2, an aircraft in which he recorded over 400 missions in combat. Captain Calamos was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for “extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight under heavy hostile attack.” His Air Force career included five years of active duty flying B-52 bombers and twelve years in the Reserves flying A-37 jet fighters. He retired as a Major.

The son of Greek immigrants, Mr. Calamos is an active philanthropist supporting educational institutions and Hellenic organizations. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago. He is an investment committee member of the Faith Endowment, and a supporting member of the National Hellenic Society, Leadership 100 and The Hellenic Initiative.

In addition to receiving many awards for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur, he has been honored for his lifetime philanthropic contributions by organizations including the Pan Arcadian Federation of America and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. He was inducted as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in 2015. Mr. Calamos was the first Vietnam Veteran to receive the Jaharis Service Award from the Washington Oxi Day Foundation; and in his honor, the Foundation established the Calamos Service Award to specifically recognize a Vietnam veteran every year.

Mr. Calamos received a B.A. in Economics and an M.B.A. in Finance from Illinois Tech, where he established Endowed Chairs in Philosophy and Business and is also a member of the Board of Trustees. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Hellenic College Holy Cross.

Co-CIO, Head of Fixed Income Strategies, and Senior Co-Portfolio Manager, Calamos Investments

As a Co-Chief Investment Officer, Matt Freund is responsible for oversight of investment team resources, investment processes, performance and risk. He manages investment team members and has senior portfolio management responsibilities for a variety of fixed income and equity mutual funds and exchange traded funds. He is also a member of the Calamos Investment Committee, which is charged with providing a top-down framework, maintaining oversight of risk and performance metrics, and evaluating investment process. Matt joined Calamos in 2016 and has over 30 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Calamos, he was Chief Investment Officer of USAA Investments, leading the teams responsible for the portfolio management of USAA’s mutual funds and affiliated portfolios, including P&C and life insurance products, and overseeing more than $140 billion in assets. During this time, he also served as lead portfolio manager for several highly regarded fixed income mutual funds. Earlier in his career, Matt served as a senior investment analyst for MetLife in the Capital Markets Group. He received a B.A. in Accounting from Franklin & Marshall College and an M.B.A. from Indiana University.

Co-CIO, Co-Head of Alternative Strategies, Co-Head of Convertible Strategies, & Senior Co-Portfolio Manager, Calamos Investments

As a Co-Chief Investment Officer, Eli Pars is responsible for oversight of investment team resources, investment processes, performance and risk. As Co-Head of Alternative Strategies and Co-Head of Convertible Strategies, he manages investment team members and has portfolio management responsibilities for those investment verticals. He is a senior member of the investment team for the Calamos Structured Protection ETFs^®. He is a member of the Calamos Investment Committee, which is charged with providing a top-down framework, maintaining oversight of risk and performance metrics, and evaluating investment processes. Eli has more than 35 years of experience, including more than 15 at Calamos. Prior to returning to Calamos in 2013, he was a Portfolio Manager at Chicago Fundamental Investment Partners, where he co-managed a convertible arbitrage portfolio. Previously, he held senior roles at Mulligan Partners LLC, Ritchie Capital and SAM Investments/The Hampshire Company. Earlier in his career, Eli was a Vice President and Assistant Portfolio Manager at Calamos. He received a BA in English Literature from the University of Illinois and an MBA with a specialization in Finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Senior Vice President, Chief Market Strategist, Associate Portfolio Manager, Calamos Investments

As Chief Market Strategist, Michael Kassab is responsible for analyzing global macro trends, formulating thematic investment ideas, and providing thoughtful analysis on asset allocation and portfolio construction for institutional and private wealth clients. He also serves as a co-portfolio manager for our US core equity strategies. Michael joined the firm in 2014 and has more than 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Calamos, he held several senior positions with Credit Suisse, both within the US Investment Strategy and Private Banking divisions. Earlier in his career, he served in senior investment roles at Dover Investment Management and Gabelli Asset Management. Michael earned a BS in Accounting and Economics from Fairfield University and an MBA in Finance from Columbia University.

Managing Director, Co-Head Private Credit, Aksia

Leo is a Managing Director and Co-Head of Private Credit and has over 18 years of industry experience. He leads the team responsible for the European private credit market, encompassing corporate lending and distressed and opportunistic strategies and investments. Leo works with global investors focused on private credit and is responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, maintaining GP relationships, and fostering Aksia’s private credit presence in Europe. Leo is an instructor for ILPA’s “Private Credit for the Limited Partner,” a one day, deep-dive seminar offered to ILPA members.

Prior to joining Aksia in 2016, Leo provided independent advice to private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on debt raisings, refinancings, and restructurings across the European leveraged finance space for seven years as an Associate Director within Deloitte’s Debt Advisory practice. During Leo’s time at Deloitte, Leo advised on transactions ranging from £40 million to £300+ million in size, spanning both the liquid and private debt markets. Leo spent an additional three years in Deloitte’s transfer pricing team.

Leo graduated from The University of Manchester with a BA in Economics. He is a CFA charterholder.

Managing Director, Private Credit, Aksia

Veronica is a Managing Director on the Private Credit team and has over 21 years of industry experience working in the private markets. She is involved in all aspects of the investment process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating private credit primary, secondary, direct/co-investment, and SMA investments. Veronica also works with global investors, directing strategic portfolio construction and management, while offering tailored investment decision advice.

Prior to joining Aksia in 2022, Veronica provided specialist structuring, debt placement, and restructuring advice to private equity funds, portfolio companies, and corporate clients across Europe. Veronica joined Aksia from Talbot Leyborne (TL) Partners LLP, where she was a Managing Partner. Prior to that, she was a Managing Director at Capital Markets Initiative (CMI) LLP and previously worked for several years in European Financial Sponsor Coverage and Leveraged Finance at both Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse while based in London. During Veronica’s tenure at both TL Partners and CMI, she advised on approximately 45 private credit deals, covering a variety of private debt instruments and borrower profiles. In addition, Veronica has extensive experience evaluating financial sponsor transactions as a leveraged finance banker, advising investment committees on debt underwriting and syndication decisions.

Veronica graduated with distinction from ITBA – Instituto Tecnologico de Buenos Aires – with a BS and an MSc in Industrial Engineering and holds an MBA with distinction from London Business School.

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Specialist, Calamos Investments

As a member of the firm’s portfolio specialist team, Phil focuses on our private market strategies. He is responsible for communicating our investment process and strategy, asset-class perspectives, strategy performance and positioning to clients. In addition, Phil works closely with investors on private markets research, education, and portfolio construction. Phil has more than 13 years of industry experience, including roles at Fort Washington Investment Advisors and Mercer. Prior to joining Calamos in 2024, Phil served as Principal, Private Markets at Mercer where he led coverage of private credit and helped manage the firm’s institutional private markets fund-of-funds offering. Before embarking on his corporate career, Phil played professional baseball with the Cincinnati Reds organization. Phil graduated from Xavier University with a BA in Accounting. In addition to being a CFA charterholder, he holds the CAIA designation.

Director, Aksia

Alex is a Director on the Private Credit team and focuses on a variety of investments including primaries, co-investments/directs, and secondaries. He is involved in all phases of the investment process including sourcing, due diligence, and monitoring with a focus on direct lending, junior debt, and distressed & special situation transactions.

Prior to joining Aksia, Alex was a Director of Private Investments at SCS Financial where he led the firm’s private credit investment portfolio and assisted in the investment process for private equity across primaries, secondaries, and co-investments. Prior to his departure, Alex served on the advisory board of multiple private credit managers.

Alex graduated summa cum laude from Babson College with a BS in Business Management. He is a CFA charterholder.

Director, Aksia

Filip is a Director on the Private Credit team and focuses on a variety of investments including primaries, co-investments/directs, and secondaries. He is involved in all phases of the investment process including sourcing, due diligence, and monitoring and specializes in the specialty finance market, portfolio finance, and esoteric transaction types.

Prior to joining Aksia in 2019, Filip worked at The Johnson Company, covering a wide range of GP relationships across the alternatives space, along with co-investments and secondary market transactions. Filip began his career as an Investment Analyst at multi-family office EMM. Notably, Filip’s pre-Aksia transaction experience included fund commitments and co-investments across a variety of industries, including digital infrastructure, solar, retail, and real estate.

Filip graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Binghamton University with a BS in Accounting and Management.