Private credit—scaling for success

Christian is the COO of StepStone Group Europe and a member of the private debt and hedge fund teams. He is also involved in various operational, investment, and risk management activities.

Prior to StepStone, Christian was managing director, COO, and deputy CEO of BlackRock Switzerland. Previously, he was with Swiss Re where he held leading asset management roles and was responsible for private equity and real estate portfolios.

Christian received his bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich. He is a certified public accountant.

Stephen is a Partner, Pantheon’s Global Head of Operations, and Head of Ireland. Stephen has many years’ senior level experience across operations, finance and risk for private and publicly-listed international financial services and renewables businesses in London and Dublin, including previous roles at 3i Group and Cantor Fitzgerald. 

Stephen is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and holds a BComm from University College Dublin.

John moved to Polen Capital in March 2023 after founding and managing Foxford Advisors LLP London, an alternatives advisory to GBC ICAV. 

He was also Partner & Head of UK deal origination at Pemberton with responsibilities for fund raising and investor relations. Here he was also a member of the investment committee—fund 1 closed with over Eur 1.1 billion commitments. He also founded and managed Siemens Bank EMEA Leveraged Finance and grew assets to c. Eur 600 million. 

ICG is a global alternative asset manager with a 35-year track record, creating sustainable value by partnering with ambitious businesses. 

Giles has over 17 years of experience working with leading global investment managers and financial services firms in respect of strategy, technology, and operations.

In his role at Lionpoint, he works with executive management teams of global private equity and private debt funds, helping them to define their technology strategy and implement practical technology and operational transformation projects.

Prior to joining Lionpoint, Giles was an investment funds lawyer in London and Shanghai before moving into senior roles within the alternative asset management industry.