Richard Davis
Former Executive Chairman & CEO, U.S. Bancorp; Former President & CEO, Make-A-Wish America
Davis joined Make-A-Wish America in January 2019, where he served as the President & CEO until November 2022. Previously, he served as the executive chairman and CEO of U.S. Bancorp, a financial service holding company with more than $460 billion in total assets and businesses across the United States, Canada and Europe.
Davis began his banking career as a teller at age 18 and worked his way through college. He became CEO of U.S. Bancorp in 2006 and chairman of the board in 2007, previously having been a senior executive with the organization and its predecessors since 1993. His outstanding leadership skills were recognized as he was named the “2010 Executive of the Year” by the Twin Cities Business Journal and “2010 Banker of the Year” by the American Banker.
During his career Davis has held executive level positions with Bank of America and Security Pacific Bank, both in Los Angeles, and with legacy organizations of today’s U.S. Bancorp, which include the former Firstar Corporation in Milwaukee and Star Banc Corporation in Cincinnati. Davis’ enthusiasm for his industry is equally prevalent in his civic and philanthropic commitments. In addition to having served as Executive Chairman of U.S. Bancorp’s board, Davis currently serves on the boards of Mastercard, Mayo Clinic, Dow Chemical, Wells Fargo, and Scholars of Finance. He has served on the boards of numerous industry and non-profit organizations, including the American National Red Cross, the Twin Cities YMCA, and the University of Minnesota Foundation. He also served as the co-chairman for the 2018 Super Bowl Host Committee.
Davis has been honored by the Banking and Finance Division of the UJA- Federation of New York and has been the recipient of the President’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award. In 2011, he received the Henrickson’s Award for Ethical Leadership. Davis was also named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics by the Ethisphere Institute in 2015.
Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University at Fullerton. He is married and has three adult children and seven grandchildren.