Emma Rodriguez-Ayala serves as president and general counsel at Ariel Investments. Rodriguez-Ayala collaborates with the co-CEO on companywide initiatives and oversees the firm’s legal, compliance, operations, technology, and marketing functions supporting all Ariel-affiliated entities. She is also a member of Ariel’s Operating Committee, among other governance roles.

Prior to joining Ariel, Rodriguez-Ayala was general counsel, chief compliance officer, and board secretary of LGIM America, a diversified asset manager with $220 billion under management. She also previously served as general counsel at Mesirow Advanced Strategies. Before moving in-house, Rodriguez-Ayala was a partner in the investment management practice at Faegre Drinker and began her career at Sidley Austin LLP.

Rodriguez-Ayala is an independent director of First Bank Chicago, one of the largest privately held banks in the Chicagoland area. She also serves on the boards of WTTW and WFMT. In addition, she is a founder and board member of Angeles Investors and a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association.

A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez-Ayala graduated summa cum laude with a BA in international business from Saint Louis University and earned her JD from the University of Chicago Law School.