Elias Alcantara currently serves as Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs at Macquarie Group. In this role, Elias focuses on implementing a government affairs strategy that builds on the Group’s existing presence in the Americas marketplace while also exploring new investment opportunities.
Prior to joining Macquarie, he was the founder and CEO of Bronx Element Strategies (BESt), a social impact and justice strategy consulting firm. Previously, Elias served in the Obama White House as Senior Associate Director in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. During his five-year tenure, Alcantara was President Obama’s liaison to local elected officials, serving as a primary interface to mayors, county, and local officials across the country.
Elias is active in local and national efforts aimed at promoting and expanding social justice, equity, and economic mobility. He serves as Vice-Chair for the Lehman College Foundation Board, Trustee for the Sing Sing Prison Museum Board, member of the Sankofa.org Board of Advisors, and member of the Hostos Community College Community Advisory Council. Elias is a graduate of Lehman College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and completed coursework for a Master of Arts in International Affairs at the Universidad de Chile. He is originally from the Bronx, New York where he currently resides.