Starbucks Vice Chair Mellody Hobson, speaks during USC's Commencement Ceremony at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif. on May 15, 2015.Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Coffee chain Starbucks Corp on Wednesday named Vice Chair Mellody Hobson as head of its board, making her the only African American woman to chair a Fortune 500 company.
She will replace Myron Ullman III, who is retiring in March.
Hobson, co-chief executive officer of asset manager Ariel Investments LLC, was named vice chair in 2018.
Earlier this year, the company had said it was targeting 30% representation of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) at all corporate levels by 2025.
The coffee chain is also hosting its biennial investor day later in the day.
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