Apollo Global Management

Office address: 9 West 57th Street, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10019
Website: www.apollo.com
Year established: 1990
Company type: private equity firm
Employees: 2,900+
Expertise: private equity funds, credit funds, real estate funds, alternative investment, leveraged buyouts, growth capital, venture capital, retirement solutions, insurance, infrastructure, capital solutions
Parent company: N/A
Key people: Marc Rowan (CEO), Heather Berger (partner), Matthew Breitfelder (partner), Whitney Chatterjee (partner), Stephanie Drescher (partner), Martin Kelly (partner), Bill Lewis (partner)
Financing status: N/A

Apollo Global Management, based in New York, is a leading provider of alternative asset management and retirement solutions, serving clients worldwide. With over 2,900 employees and operations in more than 30 cities, Apollo manages $72.4 billion in assets across credit, equity, and real assets. The firm supports more than 190 portfolio companies through innovative capital solutions designed to generate risk-adjusted returns and retirement income.

History of Apollo Global Management

Apollo Global Management was founded in 1990 by Marc Rowan, Leon Black, and Joshua Harris, all former Drexel Burnham Lambert bankers, after Drexel’s collapse. The firm initially focused on distressed debt and leveraged buyouts, quickly establishing itself as a key player in alternative investments. In 2001, Apollo made a significant move by acquiring a controlling interest in AMC Entertainment, expanding its investment reach.

By 2006, Apollo raised $10.1 billion for one of the largest private equity funds at the time, solidifying its industry influence. In 2011, the company went public, raising over $400 million in its IPO, marking a new phase of growth. Apollo brought in former BlackRock executives in 2023, aiming for $1 trillion in assets and strengthening its wealth and insurance units.

Products and Services of Apollo Global Management

Apollo Global Management offers a wide range of asset management services, investing across credit, equity, real assets, and financial services. The following are key offerings:

• credit: includes corporate credit, structured credit, and real estate debt, focusing on private and public credit markets
• equity: covers private equity and growth equity investments in various sectors and geographies
• real assets: includes real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources investments across public and private markets
• capital solutions: provides structured capital and financing options for complex situations
• financial services: offers diverse financial solutions through its affiliated companies
• retirement solutions: Apollo's subsidiary Athene provides retirement savings and insurance products

Serving both private and public markets for over 30 years, its expertise has helped clients generate returns and supported businesses with innovative capital solutions. Through Apollo’s strategies and Athene’s retirement products, millions of families rely on the firm for investment income and retirement savings.

Culture at Apollo Global Management

Apollo Global Management fosters a high-performance culture that encourages collaboration, rapid decision-making, and long-term career development for its employees. The firm supports staff at every stage of their careers, promoting growth in a learning-focused environment. Their "One Apollo" mindset emphasizes teamwork and collective success, providing benefits such as:

• health and wellness: medical, dental, vision coverage, discounted gym rates, free meals, and access to Headspace
• family support: paid parental leave, phase-in programs, fertility and adoption assistance, and leave coaching
• work-life balance: hybrid work model, recharge days, slowdown periods, and Circles Concierge services

The company integrates ESG factors into all aspects of its operations, from investing to global business practices. The firm has focused on ESG for over 10 years, emphasizing sustainability, transparency, and data-driven engagement with portfolio companies. Apollo's commitment to positive impact extends across its workplace, marketplace, and communities, with the following initiatives:

• environmental: $6 billion invested in clean energy and climate initiatives, advancing sustainability as a core business focus
• social: over 1.2 million volunteer hours contributed by portfolio companies, $3 million given to nonprofits through the Apollo Opportunity Foundation in 2023
• governance: 185 companies participating in Apollo’s ESG Reporting Program, promoting transparency and ensuring shareholder rights

Apollo Global Management embraces its responsibility to create opportunities and foster an inclusive culture where all employees can thrive. The firm views diversity in people, perspectives, and backgrounds as essential to its long-term success. Apollo's Expanding Opportunity initiative aims to drive positive change across the workplace, marketplace, and communities through:

• workplace: promotes diversity, inclusion, belonging, and engagement in a modern work environment
• marketplace: leverages resources to support diverse asset managers, financial institutions, and suppliers
• community: aiming to expand opportunities for underrepresented individuals, including initiatives like Investing in Black Futures

Apollo encourages its employees to engage in community service with the same passion and innovation they bring to their work. Through its Citizenship program, employees participate in various philanthropic and volunteer activities to positively impact their communities. The company upholds a culture of giving back and community involvement across all levels.

About Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan and Key People

Marc Rowan is a co-founder and CEO of the organization, and he serves on the boards of both Apollo and Athene Holding. He began his career in Drexel Burnham Lambert’s mergers and acquisitions department and is involved in public policy initiatives. Rowan graduated summa cum laude with a BS and MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Apollo’s executive team consists of leaders responsible for shaping the company’s strategy and overseeing its core operations:

• Heather Berger, serving as partner and head of global product, oversees the development and management of Apollo’s diverse investment product portfolio
• Matthew Breitfelder, partner and global head of human capital, focuses on talent strategy, employee engagement, and organizational culture
• Whitney Chatterjee, as a partner, manages legal matters and provides strategic counsel across various business initiatives
• Stephanie Drescher, partner and chief client and product development officer, leads client relationships and product development strategies globally
• Martin Kelly, partner and CFO, manages the firm’s global financial operations and reporting
• Bill Lewis, serving as a partner, leads investment management activities across multiple asset classes and business sectors

The Future at Apollo Global Management

Despite a recent dip in profits from its Athene annuities business which impacted second quarter earnings, Apollo remained optimistic while reassuring its investors. CEO Marc Rowan stated that most alternative investments are performing as expected, with only a few underperforming assets being transitioned. It recently announced multiple acquisitions and is expecting strong growth in private equity and fee-related earnings in the coming year.

Apollo advances its private-asset ETF plans through a partnership with State Street Corp, focusing on private credit investments. This initiative aims to make private credit more accessible to individual investors, a market traditionally dominated by institutions like pension funds. By expanding into the ETF market, Apollo Global Management seeks to broaden access to private markets and offer investment opportunities.