Kurt Summers

Kurt Summers is Chicago’s 70th Treasurer. A native son of Chicago, Treasurer Summers manages the city’s $8 billion investment portfolio and is responsible for maintaining records and accounts of the city’s finances. He sits on four local pension boards with nearly $25 billion under management.

Since taking office in December 2014, Treasurer Summers has utilized his private and public sector experience to ensure that the Office of the City Treasurer maximizes its value for Chicago’s residents. From generating $57 million in excess investment returns for the city’s portfolio to developing a fund that will drive economic growth in all 77 neighborhoods, Treasurer Summers is focused on leveraging the office’s resources to increase investments in Chicago’s residents, workers, businesses, and neighborhoods. Treasurer Summers is also focused on empowering Chicagoans through small business support and financial education programs, giving them the tools and opportunities they need to fulfill their potential.

Prior to serving as Chicago’s Treasurer, Summers was a Senior Vice President at Grosvenor Capital Management and a member of the Office of the Chairman. In that role, Summers was a leader of the Emerging and Diverse Manager business, which invested over $2 billion in minority- and women-owned firms.

Prior to his time at Grosvenor, Summers served as Chief of Staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and as the appointed Trustee for the $9 billion Cook County Pension Fund. In that capacity, Summers led county-wide reforms to provide performance management in every department and to create a more sustainable health and hospital system. Summers also steered the closure of a $487 million budget deficit while keeping the administration’s promise to roll back the county sales tax, saving taxpayers more than $400 million a year.

Summers began his career at McKinsey & Company, a preeminent global strategy-consulting firm, and later served as Chief of Staff for Chicago 2016, the city’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Treasurer Summers is a lifelong Chicago resident and a graduate of Whitney Young High School. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Management Distinction High Honors from Washington University in St. Louis. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He lives in Hyde Park with his wife. Helen, and their schnauzer, Boston.