John W. Rogers Jr. is chairman, chief executive officer and chief investment officer of Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based firm he founded in 1983, which offers no-load mutual funds for individual investors as well as separately managed accounts for institutions and high-net-worth individuals. Patience served as the cornerstone of a disciplined approach that still drives the firm today.
John’s passion for investing started at age 12 when his father bought him stocks, instead of toys, for every birthday and Christmas. His interest grew while studying at Princeton. In addition to following stocks as a college student, John also played basketball under Hall of Fame coach Pete Carril. He was captain of Princeton’s varsity basketball team his senior year. Coach Carril’s courtside lessons on teamwork profoundly shaped his views of entrepreneurship and investing.
Beyond Ariel, John is a board member of McDonald’s, Nike, and The New York Times Company and serves as vice chair of the board of trustees of the University of Chicago. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a director of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. He is the 2008 recipient of Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson Award, presented each year to the alumnus or alumna whose career embodies a commitment to national service. He co-chaired the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee following the election of President Barack Obama, and more recently, joined the Barack Obama Foundation’s Board of Directors.