Public Pension Pressures Mounting Amid COVID-19

The risks of public pension pressures to state bond ratings is intensifying. Hear from Doug Offerman and Olu Sonola, CFA of Fitch Ratings about how the investments, structures and policies are all coming into play.

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Olu Sonola, CFA

Group Credit Officer, U.S. Public Finance Group
Fitch Ratings

Olu Sonola, CFA, is the Group Credit Officer for the U.S. Public Finance Group at Fitch Ratings. Prior to joining Fitch, Olu was with PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. He is also an adjunct assistant professor of public service at New York University. Olu earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lagos State University, a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University and a doctoral degree from Rutgers University.

Douglas Offerman

Senior Director, U.S. Public Finance Department
Fitch Ratings

Douglas Offerman is a Senior Director in Fitch Ratings’ U.S. Public Finance Department and he is Fitch’s team leader on public pensions and OPEB issues. Doug was previously a financial consultant for several large, health care-related nonprofit organizations and a research analyst for Citizens Budget Commission of New York. Prior to that he was at the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, and the State of California. Doug earned a B.A. in History from U.C.L.A. and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

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