Michael M. Kaiser

Michael Kaiser
Kaiser at the White House for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors
Born	October 27, 1953 New York City
Residence	Washington, D.C.
Citizenship	American
Alma mater	Brandeis University (BA) MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA)
Occupation	arts executive

Michael M. Kaiser (born October 27, 1953) was the president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2001–2014) in Washington, D.C.

Dubbed "the turnaround king" for his work at such arts institutions as the Kansas City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Opera House, Kaiser has earned international renown for his expertise in arts management.

Born October 27, 1953, in New York City, Kaiser grew up in New Rochelle, New York, earning an undergraduate degree in economics and minor in music from Brandeis University, Magna Cum Laude, and a masters degree in management from the MIT Sloan School of Management. His study of vocal music reflected an early passion for the arts, and while he hoped for a career as an opera singer he was, as he put it, "just dreadful".

Kaiser's early career focused on management consulting. In 1981, he founded Kaiser Associates, a strategic planning company, whose clients included General Motors and IBM. But in 1985, spurred by his lifelong love of the arts, he sold his management consultancy to enter the world of arts management.

When he joined the Kansas City Ballet as general manager in 1985, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. Within two years, Kaiser had revamped and energized the troupe's fundraising, and attracted critical attention and acclaim through ambitious programming initiatives. His leadership enabled the company to pay off the accumulated deficit, which had nearly led to its closure.