UK Among Top Schools Nationally for Alumni Who Are CEOs of Fortune 100 Companies

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 1, 2019) — The University of Kentucky is tied for third among colleges and universities for the number of graduates who are CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, according to a recent report in U.S. News and World Report.

UK currently has two graduates — Sam Hazen, CEO of HCA Healthcare, one of the leading health providers in the country; and Rodney McMullen, CEO of Kroger, the country’s second largest general retailer — who are leading executives of Fortune 100 companies.

Hazen earned a degree in finance from UK in 1982. McMullen earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from UK in 1981 and 1982 respectively.

Texas A&M leads the ranking with four CEOs on the list. UK is the only other Southeastern Conference university among the Top 15 listed by U.S. News and is tied with institutions such as Duke, Dartmouth, Harvard and Purdue.

“This list is one measure of many that underscores the value of an education from the University of Kentucky,” said Provost David Blackwell. “At UK, our students receive an educational experience that challenges them to think about what is possible, while preparing them with world-ready skills to compete and succeed in a complex, interdependent economy.”