Zach Hillard

Zach Hillard, CFA has extensive work experience in the financial industry. Zach served as the Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President at Busey from August 2016 to the present. Prior to that, they held the position of Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Fixed Income at the same company from November 2007 to August 2016.

In addition to their role at Busey, Zach also serves as a member of the Investment Advisory Council for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since August 2019.

Before joining Busey, Zach worked at UBS Global Asset Management as a Director and Associate Portfolio Manager from May 2004 to October 2007. Prior to that, they held the role of Associate Director and Account Manager at Brinson Partners/UBS Global Asset Management from January 2001 to April 2004.

Outside of their finance career, Zach also had experience working as a Farmer at Ayers Farms starting from April 2010.

Overall, Zach brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the financial industry, specifically in investment management and fixed income, making him a valuable asset to any organization.

Zach Hillard, CFA, holds a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Zach obtained this degree from 1995 to 1999. In 2003, they pursued further education at the DePaul Driehaus College of Business, where they earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Finance, which they completed in 2005.

In addition to their academic qualifications, Zach Hillard has obtained several certifications throughout their career. In 2010, they achieved the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute. To demonstrate their expertise in the field of municipal advising, they obtained the Municipal Advisor Representative - Series 50 certification from the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board in October 2017. Most recently, in February 2022, they acquired the Series 54 - Municipal Advisor Principal certification, also offered by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.