Title: Managing Director, Business Head of Municipals
Firm: Ipreo
Age: 36
It’s been smooth sailing for Will MacPherson since he intentionally veered off course. After training as an engineer and earning a license as a 100-ton boat captain in the Merchant Marines, the winds of change blew him into municipal finance. Specifically he ran aground at Goldman Sachs during the turbulence of the financial crisis.
But the detour resulted in no regrets. His work as managing director, business head of municipals at Ipreo, allows him to combine finance with engineering by designing new products, a thought that delights him. And has kept his sea legs: on weekends he races 30-foot-plus boats in New England. If that doesn’t keep him occupied, Will is an avid photographer, concentrating on landscapes and portraits.
After 10 years at Goldman, Will decided he needed a new challenge that satisfied his “product design mentality.” He joined Ipreo and developed an order-monitoring tool aimed at giving the company's customers a much more detailed look at how and to whom their bonds are selling. In late 2016, MacPherson and Ipreo successfully launched his creation: Gameday.
“Will MacPherson came into the municipal bond market with a different mindset – one that has already proven to bring efficiency and clarity into a long-standing market. At a time when technology is continually enhancing experiences, Will raised his hand and set out to design and execute a solution with all market participants and constituents in mind.” Kate McKay, Ipreo
