Black Chairman & CEO's of Fortune 500 Companies
The "Fortune 500" is a list of the 500 largest companies in the United States as compiled by Fortune magazine. Only 15 black executives have ever made it to the Chairman or CEO position of a "Fortune 500" listed company. Of these 15 executives, there are currently 5 active, representing 1% of the Fortune 500 top leadership.
In 1987, Dr. Clifton R. Wharton, Jr. became Chairman and CEO of TIAA-CREF — distinguishing him as the first black CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
Franklin Raines became the second black person to lead a "Fortune 500" company, when he became CEO of Fannie Mae in 1999.
On July 1, 2009, Ursula Burns became the first black woman to head a Fortune 500 company. Ms. Burns will step down as the CEO of Xerox in late 2016, following the completion of the separation of Xerox into two independent, publicly-traded companies. She will serve as chairman of the board of the post-separation Document Technology company.
There are currently no black majority owned company in the Fortune 500 rankings.
Updated January, 29, 2015.
African American Chairman & CEO's of Fortune 500 Companies 2016
| Chairman/CEO | Age | Position | Company | Rank | Revenue ($ bil.) | Profits ($ bil) |
| John W. Thompson | 67 | Chairman | Microsoft Corporation | 25 | $93.60 | $12.19 |
| Kenneth C. Frazier | 61 | Chairman, CEO | Merck & Co., Inc | 72 | $39.50 | $4.44 |
| Kenneth I. Chenault | 65 | Chairman, CEO | American Express | 85 | $34.40 | $5.16 |
| Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. | 64 | CEO, President | TIAA-CREF | 82 | $35.20 | $1.20 |
| Ursula M. Burns | 57 | Chairman, CEO | Xerox Corporation | 150 | $18.70 | $0.47 |
Current Black CEO's of Fortune 500 Companies
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John W. Thompson
Born: April 24, 1949, in Fort Dix, New Jersey Position: Chairman, Board of Directors, Company: Microsoft Corporation, Industry: Technology Country: United States
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Kenneth C. Frazier
Born: December 17, 1954, Position: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Company: Merck & Co., Inc., Industry: Health Care, Country: United States
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Kenneth I. Chenault
Born: June 2, 1951, New York, New York. Company: American Express Position: Chairman and CEO Industry: Financial Services Country: United States
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Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.
Born: October 28, 1951, Washington, D.C.; Position: President and CEO; Company: TIAA-CREF; Industry: Insurance; Country: United States
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Ursula M. Burns
Born: New York, New York, September 20, 1958 Company: Xerox Corporation Position: Chairman and CEO Industry: Printing and Imaging Equipment Country: United States
Former African American CEO's of Fortune 500 Companies
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Aylwin Lewis
Born: May 28, 1954, Houston, TX. Company: Potbelly Sandwich Works Position: Chief Executive Officer and President Industry: Food Services Country: United States
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Clarence Otis, Jr.
Born: April 11, 1956, Vicksburg, MS. Company: Darden Restaurants, Inc. Position: Former Chief Executive Officer and President Industry: Food Services Country: United States
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Clifton R. Wharton Jr.
Born: September 13, 1926, Boston, MA; Position: former United States Deputy Secretary of State, former chairman, CEO; Company: TIAA-CREF; Industry: Insurance; Country: United States
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Don Thompson
Born: 1963, Chicago, IL. Company: McDonald's Position: CEO Industry: Food Country: United States
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Franklin Delano Raines
Born: January 14, 1949, Seattle, Washington Company: Revolution LLC Position: Director Industry: Financial Services Country: United States
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Lloyd D. Ward
Company: CleanTech Solutions Worldwide, LLC, Position: Chairman and CEO, Industry: Waste Management Services, Food Manufacturing, Country: United States
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Richard Dean Parson
Born: April 4, 1948, Brooklyn, NY., Company: Los Angeles Clippers, Position: interim CEO, Industry: Entertainment Country: United States
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Rodney O'Neal
Born: c. 1954 Company: Delphi Corporation Position: Chief Executive Officer and President Industry: Automotive Country: United States
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Ronald A. Williams
Born: c. 1950 Company: RW2 Enterprises Position: Chairman and CEO Industry: Health Care Country: United States
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Stanley O'Neal
Born: Oct. 7, 1951, Roanoke, Ala. Company: Alcoa Inc. Position: Director Industry: Financial Services Country: United States
Possible Future Black CEO's of Fortune 500 Companies
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Charles E. Phillips, Jr.
Born: 1959, Little Rock, Arkansas, Company: Infor Global Solutions, Position: CEO, Industry: Computer Technology, Country: United States
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Myron Gray
Born: c. 1959 Position: President of U.S. Operations, Company: United Parcel Service of North America, Inc., (NYSE: UPS), Industry: Courier Country: United States
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Rosalind G. Brewer
Born: c. 1962, Company: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Position: President and CEO, Sam's Club, Industry: Retail, Country: United States