Neal Aronson

Neal Aronson
Born
Neal Keith Aronson

1965 (age 58–59)
NationalityAmerican
EducationLehigh University
Known forFounder and managing partner, Roark Capital Group
Co-founder, U.S. Franchise Systems
SpouseWendy L. Conrad
Children3

Neal Keith Aronson (born 1965) is an American billionaire businessman, and the founder and managing partner of Roark Capital Group, a private equity firm.[1]

Aronson earned a bachelor's degaree from Lehigh University.[2] He started his career in the corporate finance department of Drexel Burnham Lambert.[2]

In 1995, together with his uncle, Mike Leven, a former president of Holiday Inn, he co-founded U.S. Franchise Systems, and expanded a regional chain of 27 hotels into the US's tenth-largest hotel franchisor with more than 1,100 properties before selling it to the Pritzker family's Hyatt Hotels in 2000 for $100 million, earning Aronson about $10 million.[3]

In 2001, Aronson founded Roark Capital.[2]

As of September 2023, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$2.7 billion.[1]

Aronson is married to Wendy Conrad; they live in Atlanta, Georgia and have three children.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Sorvino, Chloe (September 20, 2023). "The Drive-Thru Billionaire Who's Trying To Save Subway". Forbes. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Leadership Breakfast Series: Neal Aronson, Founder & Managing Partner of Roark Capital". HBS. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Sorvino, Chloe (July 27, 2020). "Why Fast Food's Smartest Operator Is Expanding When Business Is Terrible". Forbes. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Ewen, Beth (October 12, 2020). "A Deal to Envy How Roark Capital wins the big brands". Franchise Times. Retrieved September 22, 2024.