MacKay Shields | Senior Leadership Team

Jeffrey S. Phlegar

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey Phlegar is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Phlegar is responsible for setting the firm’s strategy and leading the organization as it implements its goals across fixed income and equity strategies. Jeffrey oversees seven investment teams, enterprise risk, distribution, new product development, mergers and acquisitions. He joined as Chairman of the firm’s Board of Managers in 2011 and leads the Senior Leadership Team. Jeffrey also serves as Vice Chairman of New York Life Investment Management International, is a member of Candriam’s Belgium Board of Directors, Chairman of the Plainview Funds (an Irish QIAIF) Board of Directors, and serves as a member of the Management Committee of New York Life Investment Management, LLC. Previously, Jeffrey was an Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for AllianceBernstein, LP. He served as a member of AllianceBernstein’s Executive Committee, which was responsible for management, key strategic initiatives and resource allocation of the firm. Mr. Phlegar led the formation of a Special Situations business unit to address the evolving needs of clients seeking specialty investment services. Prior to that, he was Co-Head and Chief Investment Officer of AllianceBernstein’s Fixed Income division overseeing $200 billion of assets under management – responsibilities included portfolio and research oversight, business development, thought leadership, technology and business planning. Mr. Phlegar joined AllianceBernstein from Equitable Capital in 1992 when two investment managers were merged together by Axa Group. While at Equitable Capital, Mr. Phlegar served as a Fixed Income Trader and Portfolio Manager for insurance company portfolios and offshore investment trusts.

Janelle Woodward, CFA

President

Ms. Woodward joined MacKay as President. Ms. Woodward partners with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer to oversee the firm’s autonomous investment teams, as well as partners with the Head of Global Distribution to further address growing demand for custom investment solutions. Additionally, she sits on the Senior Leadership Team and leads the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Prior to joining MacKay, she worked at BMO Global Asset Management, where she served as Global Head of Fixed Income. Ms. Woodward also served as President and Portfolio Manager of Taplin, Canida & Habacht, LLC (TCH), an independently regulated subsidiary of BMO focused on fixed income strategies and was executive sponsor and advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives within BMO and across the financial services industry. Ms. Woodward holds an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University, a B.S. in business systems from Taylor University and is a CFA charter holder. She has been working in the investment industry since 2001.

Lucille P. Protas

Chief Operating Officer

Lucille P. Protas is an Executive Managing Director 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 firm’s 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.