Chris Palmer

Partner at Obsidian Private Markets

Speaker

Chris is the former Head of Illiquid Assets Origination at Phoenix Group plc (now Standard Life plc), where he had responsibility for the deployment and economic returns of the Group’s private credit portfolios. He led the set up of its private assets business to be 16 professionals, managing £10bn of illiquid credit assets, originating at a run rate of over £1.5bn of new assets per annum and including in-house capability to source, execute and manage new assets without any third-party asset manager partner.

Since Chris left Phoenix towards the end of 2024, he has pursued a plural career, including as interim Chief Investment Officer for a medical indemnity mutual with £3bn of member assets, a Senior Adviser to an secure income and renewables asset manager with £5bn of real asset investments and as a Consultant to a global asset manager and to a global private equity house. His current focus is on sourcing well risk-rewarded assets that might back annuity liabilities or to allow asset managers and pension funds to deliver on their Mansion House and other private asset allocations.

Chris is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, a fellow of the London Institute of Banking & Finance and a holder of the FT Non-Executive Director Diploma.