John Kayser has served as an independent director of the First American Funds Board of Directors since 2006.  He was previously chief financial and administrative officer for the William Blair Company in Chicago, where he oversaw finance, accounting, operations, legal, and compliance, as well as human resources, facilities, marketing, and strategic planning.

John has also served on the board of governors of the Chicago Stock Exchange and as a director to William Blair Mutual Funds, Inc., Midwest Securities Trust Company, and John O. Butler Co. He currently is the president of the board of King-Bruwaert House and has served in leadership roles for the Dupage Children's Museum and the University Club of Chicago. He holds a B.A. in political science from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.