Title: 1) Board Member; 2) Chair and Independent Board Director; 3) Independent Board Director of Pathway Funds; 4) Board Director
Company: 1) McKissack & McKissack; 2) FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds, Northern Trust; 3) Morgan Stanley; 4) Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Eric T. McKissack, CFA, Board Member, McKissack & McKissack, Chair and Independent Board Director at FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds, Northern Trust, Board Director of Pathway Funds at Morgan Stanley, and Board Director at Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Financial Investments.
Mr. McKissack’s distinguished career in finance and investment management spans more than four decades, marked by a series of influential leadership roles and industry-shaping achievements. His long-standing dedication to family legacy is evident through his service as a board member of McKissack & McKissack, a national architectural, engineering, program and construction management firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., since 2000. Established in 1905 in Nashville, Tennessee, by his grandfather and great-uncle, the firm continues to thrive under third-generation leadership.
In addition to his long-standing role at McKissack & McKissack, Mr. McKissack has chaired and served as an independent board director at FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds in Chicago, Illinois, since 2011. Mr. McKissack has been instrumental in overseeing FlexShares’s board activities, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and providing executive oversight to safeguard shareholder interests. In 2013, he also became an independent board director of pathway funds at Morgan Stanley, a leading global financial services firm headquartered in New York City, where he provides strategic oversight and ensures the board fulfills its fiduciary responsibilities.
More recently, Mr. McKissack began contributing his expertise as a board director at Farmer Mac, the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, in 2021. His role involves guiding the organization’s mission to support the agricultural sector through sound financial practices and robust risk management. Also, since 2021, Mr. McKissack has been an active member of the IDC Governing Council at the Investment Company Institute, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing best practices within the investment community.
Among his former positions, Mr. McKissack was named chief executive officer emeritus at Channing Capital Management in 2019 after leading the firm as its chief executive officer from 2004 to 2018. Under his guidance, Channing Capital Management became one of two prominent Black-owned investment management firms established during a period when such representation was rare in the industry. Mr. McKissack’s leadership not only advanced diversity within financial services but also set new standards for performance and innovation.
Earlier in his career, Mr. McKissack served as the vice chair at Ariel Investments, LLC, a boutique asset management firm in Chicago, from 1986 to 2002. The financial services organization has three primary lines of business, all owned by Ariel Investments Holding Company, LLC, and include Ariel Investments, LLC, Ariel Alternatives, LLC, and Project Level Management Company, LLC. During this tenure, Mr. McKissack managed mutual funds that consistently ranked among the top performers nationally.
Mr. McKissack’s academic background laid a strong foundation for his professional success. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in management from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1976 and a Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2004. He also completed coursework at Columbia University. Mr. McKissack’s commitment to ongoing professional development is reflected in several certifications, including climate leadership and environmental, social and governance leadership from Diligent Corporation and the chartered financial analyst designation from the CFA Institute.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Mr. McKissack is deeply engaged with civic organizations and cultural institutions. As a trustee for the Art Institute of Chicago since 2002, he supports arts education and public engagement with visual culture. His decade-long volunteer service with Grand Victoria Foundation reflects his dedication to community development, while additional board roles with the Graham Foundation, AbilityLab and CARE highlight his broad commitment to philanthropy. Since 2021, Mr. McKissack has also served on the board for the Terra Foundation for American Art and for the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Mr. McKissack’s contributions have been recognized by industry peers through an award from the National Association of Securities Professionals honoring his impact on investment management and finance. He also earned recognition in leading publications such as Barron’s and The Wall Street Journal, which led to appearances on “Wall Street Week.” These accomplishments underscored Mr. McKissack’s expertise in equity portfolio management, equity research and financial strategy.
Throughout his career, Mr. McKissack has attributed his achievements to a combination of fortunate opportunities, diligent preparation, and steadfast support from mentors and colleagues. He believes that success is often where opportunity meets preparation, a philosophy that has guided him through shifting priorities and evolving challenges.
Looking ahead, Mr. McKissack is focused on making a meaningful impact through his board service and philanthropic efforts while inspiring future generations within his family, including his daughter and grandchildren in London, along with nieces, nephews and cousins, to pursue their ambitions with confidence and resilience. Eager for the future, Mr. McKissack remains committed to serving as a resource for relatives seeking encouragement or guidance as they navigate their own paths forward.
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