Mr. McDonnell is president and chief executive officer of DST Systems, Inc. (DST). He has been employed by DST since March of 1969 and has served as president since 1973. DST is a leading provider of information processing and computer software services and products to the financial services, communications and healthcare industries. Today, DST operates offices in 14 cities worldwide, employing approximately 8,500 associates domestically and 1,500 associates internationally.
Since it’s founding in 1969, DST has been headquartered in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. DST’s downtown campus, comprised largely of restored historic buildings, reflects McDonnell’s vision of a vibrant urban community—and the corporate culture of DST itself. DST, with the contributions of a strong base of talented associates, is well known in Kansas City for its role in supporting cultural and philanthropic endeavors.
Mr. McDonnell is actively involved in the community. Currently, he serves on the board of the Midwest Research Institute, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. He is Chairman of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Mr. McDonnell has served as chairman of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City (June 1999 – June 2001) and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (1994). He was chairman of the Kansas City United Way Campaign (1996), chairman of Union Station Project Consultants (1998 – 2003), and chairman of the Rockhurst University Board of Trustees (2001 – 2004).
In addition, Mr. McDonnell serves on several corporate boards. He is a director of DST Systems, Inc., Garmin LTD, Commerce Bancshares, Inc., Blue Valley Ban Corp., Euronet Worldwide, Inc., and Kansas City Southern. He became a board member of Asurion in January of 2006. Previously, he served as a board member for BHA, Ascential Software Corp. (formerly Informix), Nellcor-Puritan Bennett, and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Mr. McDonnell has been recognized with several honors. He was selected Kansas Citian of the Year (2003), honored with the William Jewell College Yates Medallion for Distinguished Civic Service (2005), and received the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurion Leadership Award (2002). In 2004, Mr. McDonnell received an honorary Doctorate of Law from the Pepperdine University George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management.
Mr. McDonnell is a native of Kansas City. He received a BSBA degree in accounting from Rockhurst University in 1966, and an MBA in finance from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in 1968.
