ACI’s COO Summit uncovered: AI, liquidity and mitigating risk
The Alternative Credit Investor COO Summit took place last month, attracting senior operational executives from an array of alternative credit fund managers for thought-provoking discussions and networking in a luxury, relaxed environment. The Summit was held under Chatham House rules, but we have provided an overview of what happened during the day-and-a-half event…
The Alternative Credit Investor COO Summit took place on 15-16 May 2025, provoking insightful debates on a wide variety of issues facing the industry’s operational leaders.
Chief operating officers (COOs) and chief financial officers (CFOs) from a wide range of alternative credit fund managers discussed the most topical subjects of the day, alongside other industry experts.
The event, hosted by Alternative Credit Investor in the luxury five-star surroundings of Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, was held under Chatham House rules to ensure relaxed and informative discussions.
Liquidity management was one of the topics discussed, with stakeholders outlining the need to be forensic around short-term cashflow forecasting. The use of interest rate hedging strategies amid rate movements and the rise of payment-in-kind requests were also discussed, and how to handle these.
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The role of the COO or CFO, now and in the future, also came up for debate. The panel discussed – and opened up to the room – the question of whether the two roles should be merged or held by separate individuals. The answer differed depending on the requirements and size of the firms. One point that most stakeholders agreed on was the fact that the role is expanding to become more strategic and aligned with the top-level aims of the business, rather than purely focusing on operations or finance.
Another hot topic was the usage and potential of AI, which evolved into a practical discussion about how the industry can benefit from the technology. It was agreed that there remains a significant knowledge gap at the c-suite level about the potential benefits of AI. While many understand the benefits of AI from an efficiency perspective, there is still a great source of debate about what it can offer beyond the back office.
Delegates also discussed the benefits and challenges of entering new markets and strategies, while other panels delved into the opportunities around Long-Term Asset Funds and European Long-Term Investment Funds.
The role that pension funds can play in private credit, particularly in light of the recent Mansion House Accord, was also talked about in detail.
After the first day of the event closed, delegates enjoyed some free time before a champagne reception in the beautiful walled garden, followed by dinner.
The second day of the event commenced with an invigorating keynote from Steve Judge, an award-winning international speaker who shared his story that took him from wheelchair to world champion and beyond in business.
The panel discussions brought up a whole new host of topics, including the role of technology. Stakeholders highlighted the inhibitive nature of cost around some forms of tech, particularly for less mature firms, as well as the challenges in maintaining human oversight.
Meanwhile, a panel on attracting and retaining talent provoked considerable debate in the room, due to a mix of opinions on issues such as working from home and encouraging diversity within private credit.
And senior operational leaders explained how firms can mitigate risk, particularly when faced with specific areas such as ESG and the ‘retailisation’ of private credit. Panellists highlighted how COOs are increasingly central to risk mitigation, having to balance regulatory pressure and new technologies alongside investor demands.
The Summit closed on Friday lunchtime, with delegates then able to enjoy lunch in the sunny surroundings of Chewton Glen before either enjoying the facilities (including the spa and golf course) or heading off.
The Alternative Credit Investor team would like to thank all delegates for participating in such a fantastic event, and we appreciate the unanimously glowing feedback we received.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our sponsors, Aztec Group and Record, for their invaluable support during the event.
If you are an alternative credit COO/CFO, or another industry expert, wishing to attend or speak at next year’s event, please email Alternative Credit Investor’s founder and editor-in-chief Suzie Neuwirth directly at [email protected].
