Emanuel C. Ackerman '61

Managing Director of The Ackerman Group

The miami herald once called Mike Ackerman "one of America's brightest young spies." Forbes magazine recently understated that Ackerman is "no ordinary consultant." A former CIA agent (terrorists were his old specialty), Ackerman heads up a Miami-based firm that assists corporations in hostage negotiations. He once dropped a $500,000 ransom from a helicopter over Guatemala. Author of a book about his CIA experiences (Street Man), he ran for Congress unsuccessfully before starting his consulting firm in 1977. The company now operates around the world, sending risk analyses to corporate clients through an exclusive, high-priced computer bulletin board. The company branched out into Russia (with the OK of the CIA) when the Cold War ended. But the prime source of negotiating revenue, says Ackerman, is Colombia. "Oil companies operate in areas controlled by guerrillas," he says.

Ackerman leftspooking for thehostage trade.