Office address: 2020 Calamos Ct Suite 200, Naperville, IL 60563
Website: www.calamos.com
Year established: 1977
Company type: global investment firm
Employees: 363+
Expertise: asset management, alternatives, structured protection ETFs, convertibles, sustainable equities, volatility opportunity, private credit, growth equities, closed-end funds, institutional strategies, UCITS funds
Parent company: N/A
Key people: John Koudounis (CEO), John Calamos Sr. (chair), Robert Behan (CDO), Dan Dufresne (COO), Jessica Fernandez (CMO), Tom Herman (CFO), Erik Ojala (general counsel)
Financing status: corporate backed or acquired
Calamos Investments is a global investment management firm headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, with $39.5 billion in assets under management. The company provides investment strategies through mutual funds, closed-end funds, private funds, and separately managed portfolios, among others. Serving individuals, financial professionals, and institutions, Calamos employs over 363 staff members across six additional offices, managing assets for over 41,000 intermediaries across 2,000 companies.
Calamos Investments was founded in 1977 by John P. Calamos, Sr. as a boutique investment firm focusing on convertible securities to manage risk and generate returns. The firm’s Market Neutral Income Fund, launched in 1990, became one of the first liquid alternative funds accessible to individual investors. Innovation and client-focused risk management have driven the company’s growth, leading to key acquisitions that expanded its product offerings.
John Koudounis became CEO in 2016 with the aim of boosting the firm’s business and stock price and has since doubled Calamos’ assets under management. Under a new leadership, the company expanded its offerings to include global long-short equity, ESG investments, and small-cap stocks. In 2022, the firm introduced the Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Trust in partnership with NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Calamos Investments offers a broad range of financial products and services across various asset classes, designed to meet the needs of different types of investors. These offerings include:
Calamos Investments' diverse offerings reflect a longstanding commitment to delivering innovative, risk-adjusted strategies to investors. Insights into these services, along with market perspectives, are available on their website, helping investors achieve their financial goals.
Calamos Investments is dedicated to delivering high-performance results and outstanding client service, rooted in strong family values. The firm provides a dynamic work environment, encouraging both personal and professional development for its employees. Calamos hires individuals based on their skills, education, and character, offering them benefits such as:
The company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) approach uses a “team of teams” method, where each team customizes ESG practices for its specific investment focus. The firm emphasizes responsible stewardship and supports sustainable practices through proxy voting and engagement. Calamos Investments leverages both internal and external ESG research to guide investment decisions, along with these initiatives:
The firm believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is essential to its success, recognizing the importance of each employee’s unique background and experiences. Calamos Investments promotes an inclusive work environment that encourages employees to express and leverage their differences. DEI initiatives are embedded in recruitment, professional development, and workplace culture, along with:
Calamos Investments is deeply committed to community involvement, participating in charitable efforts like supporting the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the World Central Kitchen. The firm helped raise $1.3 million through the Chicago CEO COVID-19 Coalition for pandemic relief in 2020. All Calamos employees contributed, with the company matching 100% of donations.
John S. Koudounis is the CEO and president of Calamos Investments, overseeing the firm’s growth strategy and global expansion efforts. Before joining Calamos, he was CEO of Mizuho Securities USA and held senior roles at ABN AMRO and Merrill Lynch. Koudounis earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, studying international diplomacy, foreign affairs, and economics.
The organization’s executive team plays a key role in leading the firm’s operations across key business areas. These include:
Calamos Investments took part in the 2024 InvestmentNews Awards, honoring the impact of investment professionals on clients and the industry. By participating as an associate sponsor, Calamos strengthened its brand visibility and commitment to advancing the financial sector. This involvement reinforces Calamos' position as a leader in responsible investing and deepens its connections with advisors and clients.
The company is expanding its offerings in the growing buffer ETF market, leveraging its expertise in convertible bonds. The firm recently launched the Calamos Nasdaq-100 Structured Alt Protection ETF, providing 100% downside protection and a 10.20% upside cap rate over one year. This move positions Calamos Investments against major competitors like BlackRock and Allianz, aiming to solidify its presence in innovative investment solutions.
New filings propose derivatives and options contracts to add floors and offset potential losses from bitcoin volatility.
Convertible bond specialist Calamos has big plans for its new line of buffer ETFs.
Find out who took home the top prizes at the inaugural, red carpet, Hollywood-themed gala.
The fund, bearing the name of Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, would exclude fossil fuels, mining and other activities.
The company, which manages money through Calamos Investments, reached an agreement to be acquired by two executives for $8.25 a share in cash.
John Calamos Sr. will relinquish the CEO title next month after struggling for two years to reverse a decline in the company's business and stock price.
Co-CIO Gary Black, others, depart even as performance improves.
Convertible income fund timed for a rising rate environment.
SEC must keep investors front of mind and avoid being swayed by fund company arguments about nontransparent ETFs
Firm's boss says HOST system shows strengths, weakness of other firm's systems; can influence pricing
AllianceBernstein LP, Franklin Templeton Investments and Waddell & Reed Financial Inc. are the three publicly traded mutual fund companies with the most at stake pending the Securities and Exchange Commission's 12(b)-1 reform.
Trying to capture some of the more than $3 trillion in cash sitting in client accounts, advisers are looking outside the style box to identify those undiscovered funds that have the potential to be tomorrow's gems.
Serving smaller convertible-based accounts has become too challenging, so the fund company is raising the investment minimum to $750,000, from $100,000.
Investors are shifting away from mutual funds toward certificates of deposit, variable annuities and exchange traded funds, according to a study that will be released next month.
