The Ramp Up

Octaura

The Ramp Up is back for Season Two. Last season, we celebrated the innovators who laid the foundation of the loan and CLO markets as we know them today. This season, we’re pulling back the curtain—bringing you the voices and stories of the people actively shaping the future of credit trading. From real‑time analytics to cutting‑edge technology, this is your front‑row seat to a marketplace that’s coming to life—live and in color.

  1. Apr 9

    Paving the Roads: Bringing a Systematic Approach to the Loan Market (Kelly Byrne, Mountain Point Credit)

    Kelly Byrne's path to credit markets started in engineering, where systems, risk management, and infrastructure were foundational. Today, as Founder and CEO of Mountain Point Credit, Kelly is applying those principles to build a systematic, data-driven investment platform built around a disciplined risk ranking process, rigorous diversification, and repeatable, transparent decision-making. In this episode, Kelly shares his journey from engineering to portfolio management, the lessons he carried through nearly two decades at Voya Investment Management, and why he believes the loan market remains largely analog. We discuss what it really takes to evolve credit investing: from building the right systems and frameworks to paving the road toward a more efficient, technology-enabled market where a systematic approach can unlock new opportunities for investors. About Kelly: Kelly Byrne is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Point Credit, responsible for leading the firm’s vision to bring a systematic investment approach to the loan market. MPC was founded by Kelly Byrne in partnership with Eagle Point Credit. Prior to founding Mountain Point, Mr. Byrne spent 18 years at Voya Investment Management, most recently as Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Capital Markets, where he helped grow assets from $2 billion to $30 billion. He held leadership roles across credit products and built the systems and processes that underpin operational and performance risk management. He now focuses on leveraging market data and technology to streamline and improve portfolio management. Mr. Byrne holds a BSE in Biomedical Engineering and an MBA from Arizona State University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder.

  2. 04/07/2025

    Hans Christensen: On taking what the market gives you

    Hans Christensen, Co-founder, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of MJX Asset Management joins your host, Brian Bejile, CEO of Octaura on The Ramp Up. Hans’s seemingly typical career journey turned out to be anything but. Beginning as a credit analyst at Harris Bank with a hand calculator and a slide rule, Hans has witnessed the evolution of credit industry, spending a good chunk of his career at Citi before moving to Barclays and eventually spinning the business out into MJX, which currently manages over $17 Billion across multiple CLO funds.   Hans has built an incredible business and counts himself lucky to be surrounded by a team of smart, highly experience people who have stuck around for the journey. But how did Hans “the credit guy” get to where he is today?    About Hans  Hans Christensen is co-founder of MJX Asset Management. Prior to joining MJX, Hans was Chief Investment Officer for Barclays U.S. Collateralized Debt Obligation (“CDO”) asset management business. Hans also worked at Citibank N.A. for 20 years in various portfolio management, credit, and corporate finance roles. Previously he worked at Banker’s Trust Company and began his career with Harris Trust & Savings Bank in Chicago.    Privately he is Vice Chair of The Army War College Foundation. He is also co-founder of a charity that runs an elementary school as well as a vocational school for girls and women in Pakistan.     Mr. Christensen received his BS in Finance from Indiana University and his MBA in Finance from DePaul University

  3. 10/15/2024

    John Popp: On the importance of connections and community

    John Popp, currently managing director and global head of the Credit Investments Group at UBS Asset Management joins your host Brian Bejile, CEO of Octaura, on The Ramp Up. John has had a storied career, which began on what some would call a less traditional path to the world of finance. John has spent most of his career building structured credit platforms at Indosuez, First Dominion, CSAM – and now UBS Asset Management. John credits his success to the broad perspective his path has provided, as well as the incredible network and community he’s developed over the years. About John: John G. Popp is a Managing Director of UBS Asset Management. He is the Global Head and Chief Investment Officer of the Credit Investments Group (CIG) with primary responsibility for investment decisions, portfolio monitoring processes and business development for CIG's global investment strategies.  He established CIG in 1997. Mr. Popp served as the Chief Executive Officer and President from February 16, 2010 to November 14, 2023, and currently serves as a Director of the Credit Suisse Funds, the Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc. and the Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund.  Mr. Popp is a member of CIG’s Corporate Credit Forum, Structured Credit Forum, and PCO Investment Committee.  Prior to joining CIG, Mr. Popp was a Founding Partner and Head of Asset Management for First Dominion Capital, LLC, overseeing the management of $2.5 billion in Credit Securitization Vehicles.  From 1992 through 1997, Mr. Popp was a Managing Director of Indosuez Capital and served as President of Indosuez Capital Asset Advisors, Inc., and President of 1211 Investors, Inc.  While at Indosuez, Mr. Popp was responsible for building the firm's asset management business, including the development of three Credit Securitization Vehicles aggregating $1.3 billion.  In 1989, Mr. Popp joined the Corporate Finance Department of Kidder Peabody & Co., Inc. as Senior Vice President, previously serving as Vice President in the Mergers and Acquisitions department of Drexel Burnham Lambert.  Mr. Popp is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Brookings Institution's Foreign Policy Leadership Committee, the Leadership Advisory Board of the Wharton School and the Juilliard School Council. In addition, Mr. Popp is a former member of the Board of Directors of The Loan Syndications & Trading Association (LSTA). Mr. Popp graduated with a B.A. from Pomona College and an M.B.A. from the Wharton Graduate Division of the University of Pennsylvania.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

The Ramp Up is back for Season Two. Last season, we celebrated the innovators who laid the foundation of the loan and CLO markets as we know them today. This season, we’re pulling back the curtain—bringing you the voices and stories of the people actively shaping the future of credit trading. From real‑time analytics to cutting‑edge technology, this is your front‑row seat to a marketplace that’s coming to life—live and in color.

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