Howard Marks
Howard Marks is the Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital Management, a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments. Since the inception of Oaktree in 1995, he has been responsible for ensuring the firm’s adherence to its core investment philosophy; communicating closely with clients concerning products and strategies; and contributing his experience to big-picture decisions relating to investments and corporate direction. Marks is one of the world’s greatest investors and most well-respected alternative investment managers in the business. Prior to launching Oaktree, he led the groups at the TCW Group, where he was responsible for investments in distressed debt, high yield bonds, and convertible securities. Before that, he spent 16 years at Citibank where he was Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager in charge of convertible and high yield securities.
Howard Marks Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Co-Founder and Co-Chairman
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Chief Investment Officer for Domestic Fixed Income
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Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, Convertible and High Yield Securities
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Director of Research
Academic History
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M.B.A., Accounting and Marketing
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B.S., Economics and Finance, Cum Laude
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, Oaktree Capital Management
Emeritus Trustee and Investment Committee Member, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Emeritus Trustee, University of Pennsylvania
Member, Shanghai International Financial Advisory Council
Advisory Board Member, Duke Kunshan University
EXPERTISE
Marks is known as one of the world's greatest investors.
He is widely regarded as the Warren Buffet of distressed debt securities.
He specializes in putting capital to work when others are fearful—a.k.a. "catching falling knives."
He is known for his often prescient, often contrarian market commentaries.
His investor memos are highly anticipated across the financial world for their wisdom, charm, and crisp clarity detailing his investment strategies and insight into the economy.
EARLY CAREER
Marks began his career at Citibank, where he started a portfolio of high-yield bonds after meeting with junk bond king, Mike Milken.
He was an equity research analyst and, subsequently, Citigroup's Director of Research.
In 1985, he joined TCW Group where he led the groups that were responsible for investments in high-yield debt and convertible securities.
In 1995, he, Karsh, and 3 others decided to leave to start their own firm and petitioned TCW to let them continue managing the funds they managed at TCW Group.
MEDIA & APPEARANCES
He has been featured or quoted in Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance, Business Insider, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Financial Times, The Economic Times, Institutional Investor, The New York Times, CoinDesk, Barron's, and Real Vision, among others.