ARIEL INVESTMENTS - Key Persons
John serves as co-portfolio manager of our small/mid cap value strategy and our flagship Ariel Fund. He has been a key stock analyst on Ariel's investment team for over 30 years. John's currently focuses his research on financial services and consumer products and services industries. Prior to joining Ariel in 1989, John worked for Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. in its institutional equity division. He earned a BB in management from Western Illinois University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Additionally, John is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Chairman, Co - CEO & Chief Investment Officer
John's passion for investing began at age 12 when his father started buying him stocks as Christmas and birthday gifts. His interest in equities grew while in college and over the two-and-a-half years after graduation he worked as a stockbroker at William Blair & Company. In 1983, John founded Ariel to invest in undervalued small-and medium-sized companies. While our research capabilities have since expanded, his patient approach still anchors the firm today.
He received an AB in economics from Princeton University, where he was also captain of the varsity basketball team. John is active civically and professionally based on his belief that these engagements make him a better leader and a better investor. Beyond Ariel, he is a member of the board of directors of McDonald's, NIKE, The New York Times Company, Ryan Specialty Group Holdings and the Obama Foundation. John also serves as Vice Chair of the board of trustees of The University of Chicago.
Ken serves as co-portfolio manager for our small cap value and small cap value concentrated strategies as well as portfolio manager for Ariel Fund. In his research capacity, Ken covers consumer products and services and industrials. Prior to joining Ariel as a research analyst in 2004, he spent more than two years with William Blair & Company, LLC, most recently as a senior investment banking analyst. Ken also worked as a senior auditor at KPMG, LLP. He earned a BS in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Ken is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Job Titles:
- Co - CEO & President Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ariel Investment Trust
As Co-CEO, Mellody is responsible for management, strategic planning and growth for all areas of Ariel Investments outside of research and portfolio management. Additionally, she serves as Chairman of the Board of Ariel's publicly traded mutual funds. Prior to being named Co-CEO, Mellody spent nearly two decades as Ariel's President. She has been with the firm since she earned her AB from Princeton University's School of International Relations and Public Policy. Mellody currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Starbucks Corporation and a director of JPMorgan Chase. She previously served as Chairman of DreamWorks Animation, helping to facilitate the company's sale. Mellody was also a long-standing board member of the Estée Lauder Companies and is deeply committed to a number of philanthropic endeavors.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Head of Investments, Global Equities
Micky serves as head of investments for the global equities team, and co-portfolio manager of our global concentrated strategy. He specializes in the technology, healthcare, autos, media and telecoms sectors.
Micky joined Ariel in 2011 after spending over eight years as an equity research analyst at various investment firms, including Smith Jacobs and September Group Partners, where he focused on global absolute return strategies.
In 2020, Micky obtained the FSA credential, awarded by the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) for professionals who understand the link between sustainability and financial performance.
Fluent in several Indian languages including Hindi, Micky earned a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and finance from the University of Mumbai and an MBA in finance and investments from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College.
Job Titles:
- Chief Investment Officer & Portfolio Manager, Global Equities
Rupal is chief investment officer and portfolio manager of Ariel's global equity strategies. In this capacity, she oversees our global research effort and manages multi-billion dollar portfolios. She also co-manages our global concentrated strategy. Rupal joined Ariel in 2011 after 10 years with MacKay Shields where she was senior managing director, portfolio manager and head of international equities. Previously, she spent five years at Oppenheimer Capital, where she was responsible for international and global equity portfolios and was promoted to co-head of international equities. Additionally, Rupal has held various roles at other financial services firms since she began her career in 1989, including Soros Fund Management.
In 2020, Rupal obtained the FSA credential, awarded by the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) for professionals who understand the link between sustainability and financial performance. Rupal serves on the Advisory Board of Directors of the Ira M. Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership at Columbia Law School. She also serves on the Board of Directors of 100 Women in Finance, a non-profit organization that is committed to building a more diverse and gender equitable finance industry.
Fluent in several Indian languages including Hindi, Rupal earned a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and finance, a Master of Commerce in international finance and banking from the University of Mumbai, and an MBA in finance from the University of Rochester, where she was a Rotary Foundation Scholar.
Job Titles:
- Director of Research
- Executive Vice President