Tom Kramer

PRINCIPAL

Tom Kramer serves as a Principal in Global Economics Group’s Financial Services practice, specializing in delivering data-driven technology solutions to optimize operational processes and performance for leveraged credit asset managers. With over three decades of expertise in leveraged finance markets, Kramer has cultivated senior-level proficiency in credit underwriting, transaction structuring, and credit advisory business development.

A serial entrepreneur, Kramer founded and led two investment management firms: LightPoint Capital Management (2002–2007) and Kramer Van Kirk Credit Strategies (2011–2018). Under his leadership, both firms grew into multi-billion-dollar platforms—LightPoint expanding internationally—before being acquired by Lehman Brothers Asset Management and THLCredit, respectively. During his investment management career, he raised and managed over $12 billion in assets under management. Kramer’s focus on operational efficiency drove the development of proprietary technology systems for credit analysis and portfolio management, culminating in the creation of Mariana Systems, a SaaS-based fintech platform later commercialized and sold to Black Mountain Systems.

Earlier in his career, Kramer held executive roles at ABN AMRO Bank, where he served as U.S. Head of North American Leveraged Finance, overseeing a $1.9 billion leveraged loan portfolio and transaction origination. Following LightPoint’s acquisition, he became Managing Director and Co-Head of Leveraged Asset Management at Neuberger Berman. His tenure also includes senior positions at G.E. Capital, The First National Bank of Chicago, and Mahoning National Bank.

Kramer holds a Master’s in Management from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University, where he completed two terms on the Advisory Board to the Dean of the College of Business Administration. His career blends financial acumen with technological innovation, establishing him as a transformative figure in credit markets.