The European Credit group invests in both public and private credit geographically across Europe in any sector and has the flexibility to fund in multiple European currencies.
The group invests in both liquid and illiquid credit instruments in both primary and secondary markets, including performing and non-performing loan portfolios.
European Credit targets individual holdings of $50 million to $1 billion-plus, with the ability to underwrite on a stand-alone basis. It has proven ability to structure complex, custom and creative solutions for borrowers.
Our Team
Derek Jackson
Managing Director, Head of European Credit
Derek leads the European Credit group.
Prior to joining CPP Investments in 2017, Derek was a Managing Director at Davidson Kempner focused on investing in event-driven, opportunistic and distressed investments across Europe. Before that, he was an Executive Director at Alcentra, focused on sub-investment grade corporate credit markets across Europe. Derek started his career at Andersen and Ernst & Young.
Derek holds a BComm from the University of British Columbia. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Bindu Besser
Managing Director, European Credit
Bindu is part of the team building out the direct credit platform, with a focus on opportunities within European sub-investment credit. She joined CPP Investments in 2017.
Prior to joining CPP Investments, Bindu was at Davidson Kempner investing in event-driven, opportunistic and distressed investments across Europe. Previously, she was at FTI Consulting and Ernst & Young Corporate Finance, both in New York, advising creditors in restructurings, primarily in Chapter 11.
Bindu holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in Finance and Management, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Brian Coulter
Managing Director, European Credit
Brian focuses on loan portfolios, structured credit and financials corporate debt investments in Europe.
He first joined CPPIB as a summer analyst in 2007.
Brian holds a DPhil in Financial Economics and an MPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford, a BEsc in Mechanical Engineering from Western University and a BA in Business Administration from Ivey Business School. He is a CFA Charterholder.
Tristan Shephard
Managing Director, European Credit
Tristan focuses on sub-investment grade corporate credit across the European market.
Prior to joining CPP Investments in 2016, Tristan was at Lazard in London advising clients on M&A and corporate restructurings. He started his career at SG CIB in project finance.
Tristan studied in the Huntsman Program at the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and a BA in International Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences.