Jan 19, 2026
Scott Kleinman is the Co-President of Apollo Asset Management. Scott joined Apollo in 1996 as its 13th employee and has spent nearly three decades helping build the firm into nearly a trillion-dollar alternative asset manager and retirement powerhouse.
Our conversation traces Apollo’s evolution from a value-oriented
private equity boutique to an integrated platform investing across
the capital structure at scale. We discuss the firm’s core
philosophy of excess return per unit of risk, its post-GFC
expansion into private credit and retirement services, and why
origination—not capital—has become the key constraint on its
growth.
We also explore Scott’s transition from dealmaker to firm-wide
leader, touching on culture, incentives, communication, and
governance. We close with Scott’s perspective on today’s credit
environment, the convergence of public and private markets, and the
risks and opportunities shaping the next phase of alternative
investing.
Learn more about our Strategic Investments: Thema.
Learn More
Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn
Subscribe to the mailing
list
Access Transcript with Premium Membership