John P. Calamos, Sr.
John P. Calamos, Sr., is chairman, chief executive officer and global co-chief investment
officer of the firm he founded in 1977, and took public as Calamos Asset Management in 2004.
A pioneer in investment strategies and techniques to help manage risk, Mr. Calamos created a
reputation for using investment techniques to control risk, preserve capital and build
wealth for clients over the long term.
Mr. Calamos received his undergraduate degree in Economics and M.B.A. in
Finance from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Joining the United States
Air Force after graduation, he served as a combat pilot during the Vietnam War
and ultimately earned the rank of Major. It was during his time in the Air Force
that Mr. Calamos became intrigued by the risk management aspects of convertible
bonds. By applying option price theory to the valuation of convertibles he was
able to demonstrate the benefit of convertibles as part of an of investment
strategy and began to attract institutional investors.
Mr. Calamos won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award for the
financial services sector, Lake Michigan Area program for 2006. He is a member
of the Investment Analysts Society of Chicago. A frequent speaker at investment
seminars and conferences, he has been often quoted as an authority on risk-managed
investment strategies in Barron's, Fortune, Forbes, Pensions & Investments,
Financial World, Nation's Business, The Wall Street Journal and on CNBC and Bloomberg
Forum. Mr. Calamos has written two books: Investing in Convertible Securities:
Your Complete Guide to the Risks and Rewards, and Convertible Securities: the Latest
Instruments, Portfolio Strategies, and Valuation Analysis.