Michael M. Kaiser

Biographical Information
"Michael M. Kaiser has been President of the Kennedy Center since January 2001... In 2001, Mr. Kaiser created the Kennedy Center Arts Management Institute, renamed the DeVos Institute of Arts Management in May 2010 following a $22.5 million commitment from Dick and Betsy DeVos, to provide advanced training for arts administrators at varying stages of development... Mr. Kaiser previously served as the Executive Director of the Royal Opera House... Prior to joining the Royal Opera House, Mr. Kaiser was Executive Director of American Ballet Theatre... Mr. Kaiser has also served as Executive Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Foundation, the world's largest modern dance organization. During his tenure, the Ailey Company erased its accumulated deficit, expanded its school, and increased all forms of revenue. He has also served as General Manager of the Kansas City Ballet, where he also erased the company's deficit.

"As an arts management consultant, Mr. Kaiser has advised such institutions as The Jewish Museum, the Market Theatre (Johannesburg), Detroit Symphony, Glimmerglass Opera, New York City Opera, and many others. He also represented the United States on a commission that established the Arts Council of the Republic of South Africa.

"Before entering the arts management field, Mr. Kaiser was a management consultant in the corporate sector. In 1985, he sold the consulting firm he founded, Kaiser Associates, which specializes in helping large corporations formulate strategic plans. Among his clients were General Motors, IBM, Corning Glass Works and 50 other major corporations. Kaiser Associates remains a major participant in the strategy-consulting field.

"Mr. Kaiser has served as a research economist for Nobel Prize-winning economist, Wassily Leontief, and is the author of seven books: The Cycle: A Practical Approach to Managing Arts Organizations (2013); Conversation Starters: Arts Management Topics for Today (2011); Leading Roles: 50 Questions Every Arts Board Should Ask (2010); The Art of the Turnaround (2008); Strategic Planning in the Arts: A Practical Guide (1995); Developing Industry Strategies: A Practical Guide of Industry Analysis (1983); and Understanding the Competition: A Practical Guide of Competitive Analysis (1981). He has written a weekly column for The Huffington Post since 2009..."

Affiliations

 * Advisory Board, PeacePlayers International
 * Prince of Wales Foundation ‎