Bill Ackman
Bill Ackman is the Founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, a hedge fund managing approximately $16 billion in assets. Known for his bold investment strategies and high-stakes market bets, Ackman has built a reputation as one of the most prominent activist investors in the world. He gained early recognition for his successful short of bond insurer MBIA and his pivotal role in rescuing mall operator General Growth Properties from bankruptcy. Over his career, he has led numerous high-profile activist campaigns targeting major corporations. Beyond investing, Ackman is recognized for his philanthropy and outspoken presence on X (formerly Twitter), where his more than one million followers engage with his often polarizing viewpoints.
Bill Ackman Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Academic History
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M.B.A.
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B.A., History, Magna Cum Laude
INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Wendy's (2004).
Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management took a large stake in fast-food chain Wendy’s and successfully pressured management to make changes, including a spin-off of Tim Hortons into a standalone publicly traded company.
General Growth Properties (2008).
During the height of the global financial crisis, Ackman invested heavily in General Growth. His investment played a crucial role in helping GGP restructure its debt and rescue it from near-collapse.
J.C. Penney (2010).
The investment in J.C. Penney serves as a high-profile failure in Ackman’s portfolio, highlighting the risks associated with investing in troubled companies.
Canadian Pacific Railway (2011).
Ackman led an activist campaign to shake up the management and strategy of the Canadian Pacific Railway. His efforts resulted in significant changes, leading to increased shareholder value that has earned his firm some $2.6 billion on its investment.
Herbalife (2012).
One of Ackman’s most famous and controversial investments was a massive short position on Herbalife. In 2018, after a five-year investment, Ackman dumped his Herbalife shares and lost close to $1 billion.
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Chairman, Howard Hughes Holdings
Board Member, Universal Music Group
Investor Advisory Committee on Financial Markets, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Board of Dean's Advisors, Harvard Business School
Co-Trustee, The Pershing Square Foundation
MEDIA & APPEARANCES
Ackman has been profiled and featured in numerous financial media outlets and publications.
He has appeared in Forbes, Barron's, Business Insider, The Economist, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Fox Business, Financial Times, Fortune, The Times, New York Magazine, The New York Times, Institutional Investor, Investopedia, CNBC, Yahoo! Finance, and more.