About Us
Solutions
Continental Insights is the platform created to share our uniquely valuable experiences to select clients seeking informed, authentic, practical, and independent perspective in the board room or on risk and governance challenges companies of all sizes wrestle with but haven’t found a trusted and capable resource to turn to.
We have served government agencies as expert witness, companies seeking outside perspective on their credit profile and competitve position, early stage companies seeking senior advisors, as well as start ups looking for assistance in plan, modeling, and fund raising.
The Continental Insights team has deep experience across corporates, financial institutions, structured finance, rating agencies, media, and real estate. We also have extensive board, governance, and regulatory experience.
We offer advisory, interim executive, or independent board member services.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
- Objectivity, Diplomacy, Independence
- Risk Management/Governance
- Credit/Capital Markets
- Leadership
- Crisis Management
- Analytics
- Talent Management
- Communication
- Research
- Complex Situations and Environments
Experience
JOHN OLERT - MANAGING PARTNER
John is a seasoned and trusted executive with nearly 30 years’ experience in banking and financial services. He is the founder and managing member of Continental Insights LLC. John’s background includes proven execution of key strategic initiatives, crisis management, embracing technology to streamline operations and improve product quality, while interacting at the highest levels of companies and government agencies in many markets. He has addressed the complexities of many industries and business models, commented on macro factors affecting regional and sector performance, and enhanced corporate governance, including enterprise risk for a company facing heightened regulatory scrutiny. John is also uniquely positioned to address cyber governance issues having dealt with real threats, forensics, and remediation.
GREG RAAB - PARTNER
Greg is an experienced Chief Risk Officer with over 30 years in financial services having worked in investment banking, asset management, bond insurance and at a rating agency. Skilled in esoteric, consumer and mortgage-backed securities; as well as insurance, corporate and public finance debt. At Assured Guaranty, he led the RMBS recovery, loss mitigation and litigation efforts; recovering $3+ billion of R&W claims. As CRO of Ambac, Greg led all restructuring, loss mitigation and risk management initiatives on $430 billion of net par insured. At GE Capital, he set up a targeted $2 billion distressed commercial ABS portfolio; backed by aircraft, containers, franchises, small business loans, whole business and equipment. He was the founder, CEO and CRO of Axon Financial Services, raising $300 million of equity and $14 billion of mezzanine and senior debt. Previously, Greg was CRO at FGIC/GE Capital, EVP of Fitch Ratings in NY and London, AVP at Citibank, N.A. and a manager at Home Box Office. He received a B.S. in Business Administration from Monmouth University in 1979.
POLLY PAO
Polly is a financial professional with over 15 years of structured products experience across various asset types. Ms. Pao recently worked with Lionsgate to close a $220 million Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility backed by production tax credits. She was formerly a Principal in the Structured Products Group at Oak Hill Advisors, working on strategic initiatives and asset management. Prior to joining OHA, Ms. Pao was First Vice President at Ambac in the Portfolio Risk group. She led loss mitigation and default management efforts including servicer transfer. She also spent time at Axon Financial Services as Head of Surveillance, developing internal risk methodologies and building out the firm’s monitoring platform. Ms. Pao, graduated from GE Capital’s Financial Management Program and is Six Sigma Green Belt Certified. At GE Capital, she held diverse positions across Corporate, GE Equity and FGIC. She earned a B.A., summa cum laude, from Rutgers College and is a Phi Beta Kappa.
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