Ariel Investments Appoints Two New Board Members

Fazal Merchant and Anthony D. Romero bring unique expertise and impact-driven perspectives

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ariel Investments, LLC (“Ariel” or “the firm”), a global value-based asset management firm, announced today the appointment of Fazal Merchant, Former Co-CEO of Tanium Inc., and Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), to its Board of Directors.

“As we continue to build on our 38-year history, I am delighted to have Fazal and Anthony join our world-class board of directors,” said John W. Rogers, Jr., founder, Chairman, Co-CEO, and Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments. “Their expertise will accelerate Ariel’s strategic vision.”

Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President, continued: “These appointments bring distinct experience and values-based thinking to the table. Both Fazal and Anthony have demonstrated lifelong commitments to civic service and excellence in corporate governance. They will be tremendous assets to our board.”

Merchant most recently served as Co-CEO of Tanium Inc., a leading high-growth global cyber-security and IT management firm. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer of DreamWorks Animation SKG, where he was integral to the company’s sale to Comcast. Prior to that, Merchant was an executive officer at DIRECTV and helped lead the company’s sale to AT&T. Earlier in his career, Merchant spent several years in investment banking at Barclays Capital and Royal Bank of Scotland, as well as Ford Motor Company. Merchant currently serves on the boards of Meritor (NYSE: MTOR), Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP), and Tanium, Inc. He is also an advisor to various enterprises across the media and technology ecosystems. Merchant earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA from Indiana University.

Romero has been the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the nation's premier defender of civil liberties, since 2001. He has presided over the most prodigious growth in the ACLU's history, dramatically increasing its membership, national and affiliate staff, and budget. Earlier in his career, Romero served as Director of Human Rights and International Cooperation at the Ford Foundation; and Senior Program Advisor and Weaver Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation. He currently serves on the Board of Physicians for Human Rights; the Advisory Council of the Global Forum for Freedom and Justice; the Racial Justice Task Force of the Robin Hood Foundation; and is a member of the New York State Bar. He is a graduate of Stanford University Law School and The Princeton School of Public Policy and International Affairs. In 2005, he was named one of Time Magazine’s 25 most influential Hispanics in America; and in 2020, he was awarded Princeton University’s highest honor, previously named the Woodrow Wilson Award, which is presented annually to a graduate whose career embodies a commitment to national service.

Merchant and Romero joined the Ariel Board of Directors, effective March 2021. Other members of the Ariel Company Board of Directors are: Paget Alves, Charles K. Bobrinskoy, Leslie A. Brun, Martijn Cremers, PhD, Arne Duncan, Mellody Hobson, Valerie Jarrett, John W. Rogers, Jr., Heather Tookes, PhD, David J. Vitale, and Paula Wolff.

Click here to learn more about Ariel’s Company Board of Directors

About Ariel Investments, LLC

Ariel Investments, LLC is a global value-based asset management firm founded in 1983. Ariel is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Sydney. As of January 31, 2021, Ariel’s firm-wide assets under management totaled approximately $15 billion. Ariel serves individual and institutional investors through five no-load mutual funds and 11 separate account strategies. For more information, please visit Ariel’s website at arielinvestments.com.