Leadership Team

Eric Thole

Chief Executive Officer
29 years of financial industry experience

Eric serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and President of First American Funds. Prior to his appointment in June 2014, Eric served as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of the First American Funds. Since joining the firm in 1997, Eric's focus has been investment operations, technology, fund treasury, securities lending administration and accounting/vendor management.

Kevin Breen

Head of Distribution and Strategy
26 years of financial industry experience

Kevin leads the business development and strategy efforts for U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and First American Funds. He is responsible for overseeing sales, marketing, client services, communications and product development.

Rick Ertel

General Counsel
32 years of financial industry experience

Rick is responsible for overseeing all legal issues involving U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and First American Funds. Rick was appointed General Counsel to U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and Secretary to First American Funds in January 2011.

Lisa Isaacson

Chief Administrative Officer
25 years of financial industry experience

Lisa is responsible for directing the planning and execution of the firm’s strategic growth initiatives.

Leo Karwejna

Chief Compliance Officer
26 years of financial industry experience

Leo is responsible for the design, implementation and continual reassessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of compliance programs for U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and First American Funds. Leo oversees the regulatory compliance programs for mutual funds and institutional clients.

Jim Link, CEBS

Head of Institutional Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO)
36 years of financial industry experience

Jim oversees all functions related to delivering OCIO solutions to clients including sales, marketing, investments, product solutions, operations and reporting.

John Molloy, CFA

Head of Liquidity Products
36 years of financial industry experience

John is responsible for the overall management of local government investment pools (LGIPs) for PFM Asset Management, a division of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc., as well as a number of investment advisory programs for state-level agencies.

James Palmer, CFA

CIO - Money Market Funds Management and Corporate Fixed Income Strategies
36 years of financial industry experience

Jim is responsible for U.S. Bancorp Asset Management's investment process. In his role, Jim oversees portfolio management, fixed income trading and credit research for all of the firm's strategies. In addition to his investment management responsibilities, Jim is active in both serving current client relationships and new business development.

Kenneth Schiebel, CFA

CIO - Public Sector Management and OCIO Strategies
43 years experience

Ken is responsible for the investment process for PFM Asset Management, a division of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. In his role as CIO, Ken oversees portfolio management, fixed-income trading and credit research for all of the firm's public sector strategies.

Jill Stevenson

Head of Operations and Fund Treasury
37 years of financial industry experience

Jill is responsible for overseeing investment operations, fund treasury, securities lending administration and accounting/vendor management. She serves as Treasurer of the First American Funds.

Torie Wise

Head of Business Solutions
16 years of financial industry experience

Torie is responsible for all of the firm's technology resources and efforts including software development, infrastructure and application support, project management and quality assurance.