UMB Leadership

Mariner Kemper is chairman and chief executive officer for UMB Financial Corporation. He has been with the company for nearly 30 years and has served many roles including president of UMB Bank Colorado, n.a. and executive vice president of UMB Financial Corporation.

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Mariner attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science. 

Mariner succeeded his father, R. Crosby Kemper, as president, chairman and CEO at age 31, making him a fifth-generation banker and the sixth Kemper leader at UMB Financial Corporation, which was founded by his great-grandfather in 1913. Since taking the helm, Mariner has kept a tight rein on risk and built a large asset management and fee-based services business, and has positioned UMB as a top-performing regional bank.

Mariner regularly appears on national media programs, including CNN This Morning in 2023, and in national and regional publications such as the Kansas City Business Journal and MarketWatch. 

Personal interests and family
Mariner has a passion for art and stays active with his wife, Megan, and his two children, Emma and Brady, through running and cross-country skiing. He enjoys spending time riding horses and upland hunting. Mariner is also a voracious reader and is currently working on a personal goal of reading every presidential biography. He enjoys sailing and competes in a regatta every year in his catboat, the Second Wind.

Community Involvement

• Agriculture Future of America – lifetime director
• Denver Art Museum - trustee and executive committee member
• Kansas City American Royal - lifetime director