Leadership
Jeffrey S. Phlegar
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Lucille P. Protas
Executive Managing Director
President & Chief Operating Officer
Jeffrey S. Phlegar
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Jeffrey Phlegar is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, responsible for setting the firm’s strategy and leading the organization
as it implements these goals across its fixed income and equity business. This includes oversight of the portfolio management teams, enterprise risk,
sales and new product development. He is a member of the firm’s Board of Managers and leads the Senior Leadership Team. Jeff also serves as
Vice Chairman of New York Life Investments International, the international arm of New York Life Investment Management. He joined
MacKay Shields in December 2011 after 18 years of service at AllianceBernstein, where he served most recently as president of Special
Opportunities and Advisory Services, responsible for building a variety of new business initiatives, including the firm’s new alternatives
platform. From 2004 to 2008, Jeff co-led AllianceBernstein’s fixed income division as executive vice president and chief investment officer.
In this role, he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s fixed income business, including oversight of its portfolio
management, research and risk management teams, client relationships worldwide, as well as the development and implementation of new products
and successful strategies for distribution, servicing and technology/operations.
Jeff’s previous roles at AllianceBernstein included serving as Director of U.S. Fixed Income and Insurance, Director of Liquid Markets/MBS and
portfolio manager for Taxable Fixed Income & Insurance. Prior to joining AllianceBernstein in 1993, he had portfolio manager responsibilities at Equitable Capital
Management and served as a fixed income product specialist at Dreyfus Corporation.
He earned his MBA from Adelphi University and a BBA at Hofstra University. He has been working in the investment industry since 1987.
Lucille P. Protas
Executive Managing Director
President & Chief Operating Officer
Lucille P. Protas is an Executive Managing Director and President and Chief Operating Officer of MacKay Shields, responsible for managing all aspects
of the firm’s infrastructure divisions, including finance/accounting, human resources, administration and back-office operations. She is actively involved in
shaping the firm’s direction through her participation on its Board of Managers and the Senior Leadership Team. Lucille joined the firm in 1973 as an Investment
Research Assistant and later became a Senior Analyst in the accounting and financial division in 1977. She was named Treasurer in 1983, Chief Administrative Officer
in 1992 and Chief Operating Officer in 2007.
She attended Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has been working in the investment industry since 1973.
