Officers & Directors

David W. Kemper is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the holding company, Commerce Bancshares, Inc; and Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commerce Bank. He joined Commerce Bank in 1978 as Vice President in charge of Commercial Lending and in 1991 was elected to his current position. Kemper heads the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. A 1972 graduate of Harvard University, Kemper received a Master of Arts in English Literature from Worcester College, Oxford University in 1974 and a MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1976. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Kemper is a director of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., Tower Properties Company, and serves as an advisory director for Enterprise Holdings and Bunge North America. Kemper serves as Vice Chairman of Washington University in St. Louis. He is also on the board of trustees of the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

Jonathan M. Kemper is Vice Chairman of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and Chairman of Commerce Bank, Kansas City Region. He joined Commerce as Vice President of Commerce Bank, Kansas City in 1982 and was elected Vice Chairman of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. in 1991. Kemper has overall responsibility for the Kansas City region and for operations and information technology. He serves on the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Kemper, a 1975 graduate of Harvard College, earned an MBA in 1979 from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business.

Kemper is a Non-Executive Chairman of Tower Properties Company. He is co-trustee of the William T. Kemper Foundation, president of the Kansas City Public Library board of trustees and is on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Association, Kansas City Design Center, Kansas City Downtown Council and member of the Executive Committee, and the Smithsonian National Board.

Seth M. Leadbeater is Vice Chairman of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Commerce Bank, St. Louis Region, and serves on the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Leadbeater has overall responsibility for the St. Louis Region, and all Community Markets in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas outside of St. Louis and Kansas City. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Principia College and an MBA from California State University, Long Beach. Leadbeater serves as a trustee for the St. Louis Art Museum, a director of the Muny Opera in St. Louis, and of the Regional Housing Community Development Association.

Charles G. Kim is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Kim has corporate responsibility for all financial functions for the company. He also has responsibility for strategic planning, marketing, the retail line of business, the consumer and corporate card business, Commerce Mortgage Corporation and is a member of the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Kim is a member the board of directors of the Bank Administration Institute (BAI) in Chicago. Kim also serves on the board of trustees of Missouri Baptist Medical Center and on the board of directors of the Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation, as well as the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Mississippi Valley and the board of trustees of Logan University. Kim graduated with honors from the Washington University Executive MBA program and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Kevin G. Barth is Executive Vice President of the Commercial Line of Business for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and President and Chief Operating Officer for Commerce Bank, Kansas City Region. He is responsible for overseeing product development and policy for Commerce Bancshares, Inc.'s commercial banking operations and is a member of the Commerce Bancshares Executive Committee. Barth received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa. He earned his MBA from Rockhurst College, Kansas City, MO. Barth currently serves on community boards, including The Kansas City Area Development Council, the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. Mr. Barth also serves on the board of directors of Kansas City Life Insurance Company and Hodgdon Powder Company.

Daniel D. Callahan is Chief Credit Officer and Chief Risk Officer of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. He has responsibility for overseeing credit administration, lending policies and portfolio management processes to ensure the overall quality and credit culture of Commerce’s lending portfolio. Callahan is a member of the Executive Committee. He holds a BSPA from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and an MBA from St. Louis University and is a graduate of the Stonier School of Banking. Callahan serves on the board of directors for Business Finance Corporation, St. Louis Society for Adults with Physical Disabilities, Missouri College Fund, and Cardinal Ritter Senior Services. He is a trustee for the St. Louis Science Center and is a director for the Western Golf Association.

Ray Stranghoener is Executive Vice President of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and President of The Commerce Trust Company, a division of Commerce Bank. As president, he is responsible for approximately $20 billion of client assets under management in Commerce locations across Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. He also serves on the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Stranghoener holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and an undergraduate degree in political science from Westminster College. He serves on the boards of the Missouri History Museum and The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. He represents Commerce Bank in its role as trustee of the St. Louis Community Foundation.

Sara E. Foster is Senior Vice President of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and Director of Support Group Services. She has overall responsibility for Human Resources, Organizational Development, Compliance, Security and General Services. Foster is a member of the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, and an MBA from Washington University, St. Louis, MO. Foster serves on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, is chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Metro St. Louis, and serves on the University of Missouri – St. Louis Chancellor’s Council.

John W. Kemper is Senior Vice President of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and Director of Strategic Planning, Acquisitions, and Card Products. A member of the company’s Executive Committee, Kemper directs strategy and acquisitions and manages Capital for Business, the bank’s venture capital subsidiary. He is also responsible for the bank’s consumer and commercial credit card businesses. Kemper holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Stanford University, a Master of Science in economic history from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Kemper is a director of Tower Properties Company and a member of the Leadership Council of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. He is a board member of the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association and KIPP St. Louis.

Michael J. Petrie is a Senior Vice President of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., Director of Community Bank Administration, and has administrative responsibility for Community markets -- outside St. Louis and Kansas City -- in the Commerce Bank system. Petrie serves on the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.

Robert J. Rauscher is Senior Vice President of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and is Director of Operations and Information Services. Rauscher serves on the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Banking and Finance from the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, and is a CBA Graduate School of Bank Management, University of Virginia.

John R. Capps was elected a director in January, 2000. Mr. Capps has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Plaza Motor Company since 1981. Plaza Motor Company is a retail dealership for eight luxury automobile franchises. Capps is a director of St. Louis Priory School, Muny Opera, Forest Park Forever, Webster University, and St. Louis Children's Hospital Foundation.

Earl H. Devanny, III was elected a director in April, 2010. Mr. Devanny is president and CEO of The TriZetto Group, Inc., a leading privately-held healthcare information technology company to the healthcare payer industry. He was formerly president of Cerner Corporation.

W. Thomas Grant II was elected a director in June, 1983. Mr. Grant is currently a Consultant for Quest Diagnostics. He is the former Sr. Vice President of Quest Diagnostics (November 2005-May 2007) and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of LabOne, Inc. (October 1995-November 2005). Quest Diagnostics is a national provider of diagnostic testing, information and services.

James B. Hebenstreit was elected a director in October, 1987. Mr. Hebenstreit is the President of Bartlett and Company. Bartlett and Company is engaged in grain merchandising and storage, flour and feed milling and cattle feeding. Hebenstreit is Chairman of the Company's Committee on Governance/Directors.

David W. Kemper is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the holding company, Commerce Bancshares, Inc; and Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commerce Bank. He joined Commerce Bank in 1978 as Vice President in charge of Commercial Lending and in 1991 was elected to his current position. Kemper heads the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. A 1972 graduate of Harvard University, Kemper received a Master of Arts in English Literature from Worcester College, Oxford University in 1974 and a MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1976. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Kemper is a director of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., Tower Properties Company, and serves as an advisory director for Enterprise Holdings and Bunge North America. Kemper serves as Vice Chairman of Washington University in St. Louis. He is also on the board of trustees of the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

Jonathan M. Kemper is Vice Chairman of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and Chairman of Commerce Bank, Kansas City Region. He joined Commerce as Vice President of Commerce Bank, Kansas City in 1982 and was elected Vice Chairman of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. in 1991. Kemper has overall responsibility for the Kansas City region and for operations and information technology. He serves on the Executive Committee of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Kemper, a 1975 graduate of Harvard College, earned an MBA in 1979 from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business.

Kemper is a Non-Executive Chairman of Tower Properties Company. He is co-trustee of the William T. Kemper Foundation, president of the Kansas City Public Library board of trustees and is on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Association, Kansas City Design Center, Kansas City Downtown Council and member of the Executive Committee, and the Smithsonian National Board.

Terry O. Meek was elected a director in April, 1989. Mr. Meek is President of Meek Lumber Yard, Inc., which operates a chain of builders' materials centers under the name Meeks Building Centers.

Benjamin F. Rassieur III was elected a director in August, 1997. Mr. Rassieur is President of Paulo Products Company. Paulo Products is engaged in commercial heat treating, electroplating, and furnace brazing services.

Todd R. Schnuck was elected a director in April, 2010. Mr. Schnuck is President and Chief Operating Officer of Schnuck Markets, Inc., a family-owned grocery company with more than 100 stores in seven states.

Dan C. Simons was elected a director on July 27, 2007. Mr. Simons is President of the Electronic Division of The World Company. The World Company owns newspapers throughout Kansas, owns and operates cable television systems with ISP, telephone and wireless divisions, and an ABC broadcast television station in Topeka, Kansas. A related enterprise created by The World Company, WorldWest Limited Liability Company is a newspaper/communications company serving Arizona, Colorado and Kansas. Mr. Simons is also Co-Manager of WorldWest, L.L.C.

Andrew C. Taylor was elected a director in February, 1990. Mr. Taylor is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Rent-A-Car which is engaged in automobile leasing, rental and related services. Enterprise also owns and operates the vehicle rental brands Alamo and National. Mr. Taylor is Chairman of the Company's Compensation and Human Resources Committee.

Kimberly G. Walker was elected a director on February 2, 2007. Ms. Walker has served as Chief Investment Officer of Washington University in St. Louis since November 2006. She was formerly Vice President of Qwest Communications International and President of Qwest Asset Management Co.