Crescent Capital Group Announces New Senior Leadership Changes
June 20 2024 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Christopher Wright Named President
Joseph Viola Named Chairman of Operating
Committee
Jason Breaux Appointed to Operating
Committee
Crescent Capital Group LP, a leading alternative credit
investment firm, announced today that it has made several
leadership changes, effective immediately:
- Managing Director and Head of Private Credit Christopher Wright
has been named President of Crescent Capital Group. This promotion
recognizes his significant industry and firm experience over the
past 23 years, his deep industry expertise, and his shared vision
for Crescent’s continued growth. In his role, he will provide key
strategic and operational direction in partnership with Crescent
Managing Partners Mark Attanasio and Jean-Marc Chapus as well as
represent Crescent in external opportunities and with SLC
Management, the alternatives asset management business of Sun Life
Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF), which acquired a stake in
Crescent in 2021. Mr. Wright will continue in his roles on
Investment Committees as well as a member of Crescent’s Operating
and Executive Committees.
- Chief Operating Officer Joseph Viola has been named Chairman of
Crescent’s Operating Committee, which oversees critical day-to-day
aspects of Crescent’s business including budgeting, financial
reporting, and SLC partnership matters. Mr. Viola has served
Crescent for more than 23 years, and his expanded leadership role
will be instrumental in streamlining the Operating Committee’s
functions to meet the needs of Crescent’s stakeholders. His breadth
of experience, institutional knowledge and expertise make him
exceptionally well-suited for the role. Mr. Viola will continue in
his role as a member of Crescent’s Executive Committee.
- Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Crescent
Capital BDC, Inc. Jason Breaux has been appointed to Crescent’s
Operating Committee. With more than 23 years at Crescent, Jason
will bring his extensive understanding of the Crescent platform as
well as his unique experience launching and managing registered
funds to the Operating Committee. His commitment to fostering a
collaborative environment and strategic perspective will help to
build consensus and contribute to long-term success. Mr. Breaux
will continue in his roles on Investment Committees and as a member
of Crescent’s Executive Committee.
Crescent Co-Founders and Managing Partners Mark Attanasio and
Jean-Marc Chapus will remain in their roles and as members of the
firm’s Operating Committee and Investment Committees. They will
also continue to focus on client relationships and corporate
strategy. These promotions and new roles reflect Crescent’s
transition into a new stage of growth and expanded reach as well as
recognizes the significant contributions of each of these
long-tenured executives.
“For more than 30 years, Crescent has proudly maintained a
consistent approach to credit investing and has provided a culture
of stability for all of its stakeholders including investors,
partners and colleagues,” said Messrs. Attanasio and Chapus. “As we
transition in this new stage of growth for our firm, we believe
that Chris, Joe and Jason have demonstrated the exceptional
leadership and operational skills to support and carry out our
shared vision for Crescent.”
“I deeply appreciate the confidence that Mark and Jean-Marc have
in me to implement the strategic initiatives that we have developed
together at Crescent,” said Mr. Wright. “I am excited about this
new role and look forward to continuing to work with our team to
expand the firm while remaining committed to our longstanding
culture and roots in credit.”
“As Crescent has grown over the past 30 years, so have the
operational mandates of a best-in-class firm like ours. I look
forward to working with our team to continue to enhance our
operational capabilities and infrastructure in order to meet the
evolving needs of our clients and deliver on our competitive
advantages as a firm,” said Mr. Viola. “Mark and Jean-Marc have
built an incredible culture at Crescent, and I am grateful to be
able to continue working with them and the rest of the team to
drive continued strong performance.”
“As Crescent increasingly works to provide both institutional
and individual investors expanded access to its alternative credit
offerings, I appreciate the recognition of my experience in
registered funds and look forward to bringing my perspective to the
Operating Committee as we grow our business,” said Mr. Breaux.
“Crescent has been an excellent addition to the SLC Management
group of companies, and I’m excited for this next phase of growth,”
said Steve Peacher, Executive Chair, SLC Management. “Mark and
Jean-Marc have built an outstanding organization with a compelling
track record in alternative credit investing as well as a stellar
reputation in the industry. I’m looking forward to continue
partnering with Chris and the team going forward as part of
Crescent’s succession.”
Crescent’s Operating Committee is now comprised of Messrs.
Attanasio and Chapus, Mr. Wright, Mr. Viola, Mr. Breaux as well as
Managing Director and Head of Public Credit John Fekete.
Christopher Wright Mr. Wright joined Crescent in 2001 and
now serves as its President. He is the Head of Private Markets as
well as a member of Crescent’s Operating Committee and Executive
Committee. Prior to joining Crescent, Mr. Wright completed the
Financial Management Program with the General Electric Company and
upon completion, worked in various finance roles within GE
Industrial Systems. Mr. Wright is a current and former member or
observer of the Board of numerous private companies and other
non-profit organizations. Mr. Wright received his MBA from Harvard
Business School and his BA from Michigan State University.
Joseph Viola Mr. Viola joined Crescent in 2001 and serves
as Chief Operating Officer, Chairman of Crescent’s Operating
Committee as well as a member of Crescent’s Executive Committee.
Prior to Crescent, Mr. Viola worked in various roles within the
Leveraged Finance Group at TCW. He serves as the Board Chair of
Verbum Dei High School and as a Trustee for the Catholic Education
Foundation of Los Angeles, which grants scholarships to over 10,000
K-12 students in need throughout greater Los Angeles. Mr. Viola
received an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the
University of Southern California and a BA in English and a minor
in Business Administration from the University of San Diego.
Jason Breaux Mr. Breaux joined Crescent in 2000 and
serves as a Managing Director within private credit as well as a
member of Crescent’s Operating Committee and Executive Committee.
He is also Chief Executive Officer of Crescent Capital BDC, Inc.
and serves as Chairman of the BDC Advisor’s Investment Committee
and Chairman of the Board of Crescent Private Credit Income Corp.
Prior to Crescent, he worked at Robertson Stephens where he served
in the mergers and acquisitions group. Prior to that, he worked in
the investment banking division of Salomon Brothers. Mr. Breaux
received an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the
University of Virginia and an AB from Georgetown University.
About Crescent Capital Group LP Crescent is a global
credit investment manager with $43 billion of assets under
management as of March 31, 2024. For over 30 years, the firm has
focused on below investment grade credit through strategies that
invest in marketable and privately originated debt securities
including senior bank loans, high yield bonds, as well as private
senior, unitranche and junior debt securities. Crescent is
headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Boston,
Chicago and London with more than 225 employees globally. Crescent
is a part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and
traditional asset management business of Sun Life. For more
information about Crescent, visit www.crescentcap.com.
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