John W. Akkerman is an Executive Managing Director and Global Head of Distribution, responsible for creating and implementing strategies for MacKay Shield’s distribution, marketing, consultant relations and client service practices.  He is a member of the firm’s Senior Leadership Team.  He joined MacKay Shields in September 2012 after 16 years in various leadership roles at AllianceBernstein, where he most recently led the firm's specialist institutional sales and marketing functions focused on alternatives and fixed income. From 2004 to 2010 he was responsible for the expansion and leadership of AllianceBernstein’s institutional business in Canada, the United States and Latin America. This followed the launch and development of AllianceBernstein’s Canadian business from 1996 to 2004.  Prior to joining AllianceBernstein in 1996, John was a shareholder at TAL Investment Counsel, a business development executive at Sun Life and a corporate banking officer with Bank of Montreal.

He earned a BComm from Saint Mary’s University and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario. A member of CFA Society Toronto, he is a CFA charterholder and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst. He has been working in the investment industry since 1987.