25 for 25: Transforming Data into Decisions: The Art and Science of Credit Analysis

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Special Edition Podcast Mini Series: 25 for 25 Episode 3

Host Winnie Cisar (Global Head of Strategy, CreditSights) is joined by three senior analysts for episode three of our 25 for 25 series: the art and science of credit analysis. Guests Andy DeVries (Head of US Investment Grade; Head of Energy & Power), Eric Axon (Co-Head of US High Yield; Head of Healthcare), and Mary Pollock (Head of Euro Real Estate) discuss how to turn data into decisions, balance quantitative rigor with qualitative judgment, and coach junior analysts to build process-driven instincts.

The team explores actionable frameworks: using grid-scale battery penetration to forecast price spikes and power producer relative value (NRG vs. Vistra), anchoring event analysis with day-one leverage math before overlaying management behavior, and surfacing governance and disclosure red flags from proxies and historical actions. They share approaches to identifying consensus vs. contrarian calls, sifting noise during heavy newsflow, and recognizing true inflection points—drawing on examples from energy markets, pharma M&A, European real estate governance, and industry “world-changed” moments (e.g., WhatsApp vs. telco SMS pricing; ESPN and the shift from linear).