Mellody Hobson (born April 3, 1969) is an American businesswoman who is president and co-CEO of
Ariel Investments,[1] and the chairwoman of
Starbucks Corporation. She is the former chairwoman of
DreamWorks Animation,[2] having stepped down after negotiating the acquisition of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., by NBCUniversal in August 2016. In 2017, she became the first
African-American woman to head The Economic Club of Chicago.[3] She was also named to chair the board of directors of
Starbucks in 2021, making her one of the highest profile corporate directors in the United States.[4]
As of 2020, she is listed as #94 in Forbes list of the
World's 100 Most Powerful Women.[5] On December 26, 2020 it was announced she was being named the chairwoman of Starbucks Corp., the first black woman to be chairperson of an
S&P 500 company.[6]
Soon after her graduation from Princeton, Hobson joined
Ariel Investments, a Chicago investment firm that manages nearly $13 billion in assets [9] as an intern. She rose to become the firm's senior vice president and director of marketing.[10] In 2000,[citation needed] she ascended to become the company's president.[11] Ariel Investments is one of the largest
African American-owned money management and mutual fund companies in the US.[7] She was a contributor to financial segments on Good Morning America for many years.[11]
Hobson is also chairman of the board of trustees of Ariel Investment Trust. She is a regular contributor on financial issues on
CBS This Morning and formerly a spokesperson for the annual Ariel/Schwab Black Investor Survey.
In the American television drama The Good Wife, actress
Vanessa L. Williams based her character, self-made businesswoman Courtney Paige, on Hobson, studying her via Hobson's
TED talks.[15]
In 2017, Hobson was named to head the Economic Club of Chicago, the first African-American woman to do so.[16] In August, Hobson guest hosted
CBS Sunday Morning's annual "Money Issue" episode.[17]
In June 2018, Hobson was named as vice-chair of
Starbucks Corporation.[18] After heading the finance committee she was elected to chair the board in 2020.[4] In October 2020, Hobson and the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation made the lead gift to establish a residential college at
Princeton University.[19][20]
Hobson began dating film director and producer
George Lucas in 2006, after they met at a business conference in 2005.[25][26] Hobson and Lucas announced their engagement in January 2013,[27] and were married on June 22, 2013, at Lucas'
Skywalker Ranch.[28] They have one daughter together, Everest Hobson Lucas, who was born via
surrogacy in August 2013.[29]
She appeared on the Jack Good Show in August 2017, where she accepted the
City of Birmingham's deepest appreciation for her charitable work with Birmingham's Bright Leaders of Tomorrow.[31]
^Art, The Lucas Museum of Narrative (July 4, 2023).
"George Lucas". The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.