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Peer Fund / Dealmaker·Specialty Finance

Armen Panossian

Co-CEO & CEO of Strategic Credit Fund at Oaktree Capital Management LP

Los Angeles, CA

AP
Why they matter

As Co-CEO of Brookfield's newly unified $365B credit platform and CEO/CIO of its two largest BDCs, he sets underwriting priorities across specialty finance and private credit.

Background

Armen Panossian is Co-CEO of Brookfield's Credit Group (the former Oaktree Capital Management), a role he assumed after Brookfield completed its full acquisition of Oaktree on August 3, 2026. He joined Oaktree in 2007, built out its CLO business starting in 2014, became Head of Performing Credit in 2019, and was elevated to Oaktree Co-CEO in 2024 alongside Robert O'Leary. He remains CEO and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL) and CEO/CIO/Trustee of Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund (OSCF), the firm's two flagship BDC vehicles.

Notable deals

  • 2022
    Announced merger agreement combining Oaktree Specialty Lending Corp (OCSL) and Oaktree Strategic Income II (OSI II) into a $3B+ BDC, as CEO/CIO of both entities
  • 2023
    Completed the OCSL/OSI II merger, creating a combined BDC with $3.3B+ pro forma assets under his leadership as CEO/CIO
  • 2024
    Elevated to Co-CEO of Oaktree Capital Management alongside Robert O'Leary, succeeding Jay Wintrob
  • 2026
    Named Co-CEO of Brookfield's Credit Group as Brookfield completed its full acquisition of Oaktree, forming a $365B combined credit platform

Call-prep brief

Background

  • Joined Oaktree in 2007 (Global Opportunities group) after distressed-debt work at Pequot Capital Management.
  • Moved to the U.S. Senior Loan team in 2014; built and led Oaktree's CLO business.
  • Named Head of Performing Credit in 2019, overseeing senior loans, high yield, private credit, convertibles, structured credit, and EM debt.
  • Elevated to Oaktree Co-CEO in 2024 (with Robert O'Leary), succeeding Jay Wintrob.
  • Now Co-CEO of Brookfield's Credit Group following Brookfield's August 2026 completion of its full Oaktree acquisition (a $365B combined credit platform).
  • Also CEO/Co-CIO of Oaktree Specialty Lending Corp (OCSL) and CEO/CIO/Trustee of Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund (OSCF).
  • Education: BA Stanford (Phi Beta Kappa), MS Stanford Medical School, JD Harvard Law, MBA Harvard Business School.

Current focus

  • Integrating Oaktree's credit platform into Brookfield immediately post-close.
  • Deploying capital across performing and private credit as regulated banks retreat from middle-market lending.
  • Managing OCSL/OSCF portfolios (combined $3B+ assets across 150+ portfolio companies).

What he cares about

  • Disciplined, risk-adjusted underwriting over yield-chasing.
  • Platform integration across CLOs, BDCs, and direct lending under one credit umbrella.
  • Continuity of the Oaktree investment culture through the Brookfield transition.

Sensitivities

  • Full Brookfield ownership just closed (Aug 3, 2026) — avoid framing bluntly as an "acquisition"; he's emphasized continuity of a seven-year partnership.
  • Dual mandate (Co-CEO + BDC CEO/CIO) means limited bandwidth; be precise about the ask.

Questions to ask

  1. How does full Brookfield ownership change capital allocation or fee structures across OCSL/OSCF?
  2. Where is he seeing the best risk-adjusted opportunities in direct/specialty lending as banks pull back?
  3. How is the CLO and performing-credit platform being integrated with Brookfield's broader $365B credit business?

Outreach draft

Subject
Quick call on private credit deployment?
Hi Armen, Congratulations on the Brookfield-Oaktree integration closing this month — a significant moment for the platform. I'm reaching out from [Firm Name], where we're evaluating opportunities in specialty finance and private credit and would value your perspective given your work leading performing credit and the OCSL/OSCF platforms. Would you have 20-30 minutes in the next couple of weeks for a call? We're particularly interested in how banks pulling back from middle-market lending is shaping deal flow and underwriting discipline across direct lending and CLOs. Happy to work around your schedule. Best, [Placeholder Name]

Linked companies

Sources

Strongest evidenceStructured data7 public sourcesVerified2026-08-06How the grades work