John A. Barker is vice president and chief investment officer. As a member of the executive team, he is a partner in the development and implementation of the foundation’s strategy. John is also responsible for the investment of the foundation’s endowment and for the management of the Investment Office and its staff.

Since joining the foundation in 2007, John has served as a senior leader within Kresge’s Investment team, developing asset class strategy, managing risk and liquidity, evaluating managers and researching investment opportunities. He has also championed the department’s efforts to expand diversity, equity and inclusion of women and people of color within the industry and who manage investments on Kresge’s behalf.

Barker joined Kresge from the University of Notre Dame Investment office, where he was assistant investment director for 5 years. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and received a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in accountancy from Notre Dame.

A native of Pittsburgh, Barker is active in the metro Detroit community where he serves on various boards including the Children’s Foundation of Michigan and Forgotten Harvest. In 2019 he was named a “40 Under Forty” by Crain’s Detroit business; in 2018, and again in 2019, he was recognized by Institutional Investor with its “Most Wanted Allocators: First Team” designation.