John Schlifske, Director
John was born and raised in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. He graduated from Carleton College in 1981 and from the Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University in 1983. He worked in the life insurance industry first as an investment professional and then running different business lines culminating in becoming Northwestern Mutual’s CEO and Chairman in July 2010. Northwestern Mutual is a Fortune 100 life insurance company. During his leadership, Northwestern Mutual has grown to record levels of profitability, revenue, and asset levels, while maintaining its financial strength as one of only five US companies that receive the highest possible credit rating from the four major credit rating agencies.
John currently serves on the boards (and the Executive Committees) of Northwestern Mutual and Kohls Corporation. His past board service includes Robert W. Baird & Co., Milwaukee Metropolitan Associate of Commerce, the American Council of Life Insurers, Greater Milwaukee Committee, The Frank Russell Company, Froedtert Health System, Children’s Hospital System of Wisconsin, JL French, Co., and American Bumper Manufacturing Company.