Bill Ackman

Bill Ackman is a notable figure in finance, renowned as the CEO and portfolio manager of Pershing Square Capital Management, a hedge fund which he founded.

Ackman's journey into finance began with the co-founding of Gotham Partners Management Co. in 1992, an investment firm specializing in deep value investing. Despite initial success, the firm dissolved in 2003 amidst regulatory scrutiny. Undeterred, Ackman went on to establish Pershing Square the following year where he adopted an activist investment approach, taking substantial stakes in companies and actively engaging with management to drive strategic changes aimed at enhancing shareholder value. His investment style emphasizes rigorous research, conviction, and a willingness to take contrarian positions.

Throughout his career, Ackman has been involved in several high-profile activist campaigns, often attracting attention for his bold and sometimes controversial strategies. His activism has targeted companies across various industries, including retail, real estate, and pharmaceuticals. In 2023, he made headlines as an outspoken critic of student-led protests against Israel, and publicly pressured Harvard University to oust president Claudine Gay amid accusations of plagiarism and antisemitism until she resigned.

Ackman is Chairman of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. and a member of the board of Universal Music Group N.V. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Investor Advisory Committee on Financial Markets for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and a member of the Board of Dean’s Advisors of the Harvard Business School. He is co-trustee of The Pershing Square Foundation, a family foundation, that supports exceptional leaders and innovative organizations tackling important social issues and delivering scalable and sustainable impact across the globe. A signatory of The Giving Pledge, he has committed himself to giving away at least fifty percent of his wealth by the end of his life to charitable causes.

Ackman began his career working for his father in real estate. He received his undergraduate degree in history from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.