Family statement on Robert Holland, Jr.

Robert, former President and CEO of Ben & Jerry's, was the first Black Partner at McKinsey & Company.

An image of Robert Holland, Jr with the dates of his life 1940-2021

The family of Robert “Bob” Holland Jr., has confirmed his passing on December 22, 2021. Holland passed peacefully at home with his family in White Plains, NY after an extended illness with Parkinson’s. He was 81 years old.

Born in Albion, Michigan on April 11, 1940, Holland was not one to shy away from a challenge. He was a brilliant engineer who helped integrate the ranks at Mobil Oil Company in the 1960’s. He became the first black partner at McKinsey & Company, the consulting firm where he was known as the “turnaround expert” for major corporations and, for a while, was the company’s top-grossing partner. In 1995, Holland was appointed the chief executive officer of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and became the first African American CEO of a majority-owned franchise company joining only a handful of African-Americans to hold the title of CEO of a publicly traded corporation. He also served as a director on numerous corporate boards. These included Carver Federal Savings Bank, Advisory Board to the NCAA, Lexmark International, the Essex Lake Group, Lexmark International, Neptune Orient Lines, MONY, and the African American Advisory Board of PepsiCo, Inc. In addition, he was a founding director of YUM Brands, the giant restaurant chain. Holland was also an innovative entrepreneur, starting and managing several companies, including Rokher-J, Inc., City Marketing, Gilreath Manufacturing and WorkPlace Integrators Franchise.

But his true legacy is the impact he was able to have on so many. Holland’s philanthropy and volunteerism were hallmarks of his commitment to community and youths. He served as chair of the board of Spelman College during an especially critical time in its history. He also founded a high school dropout program in Detroit called Make-A-Difference, was on the board of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program and more recently was chairman of the Northeast STEM Starter Academy in Mount Vernon, NY.

Always the competitor, Holland was a three-letter varsity athlete at Union College, where he majored in mechanical engineering, while holding the position of class president for all four years. He met his wife Barbara while attending Union. After graduating, he continued this passion for sports by playing tennis and enduring a lifelong suffering as a Knicks fan. His loved ones will remember him as a deeply dedicated family man devoted to Barbara, his wife of 56 years, and their three children Robb, Kheri and Jackie. His three grandchildren, Miles, Kayla and Maya, became the center of his life and he never missed the chance to cheer them on from the lacrosse and soccer sidelines. He was a dedicated brother to his sisters Ruth and June and brothers Bill and Rodney (deceased). His passion was infectious, his calm was reassuring and his love for those around him was enduring. Holland committed his life to ensuring that while he may have been the first in many situations, he wanted to guarantee he would not be the last. And now the time has come to celebrate him.

Given concerns regarding COVID-19, a live stream memorial with limited in-person participation will be announced shortly. The family has established The Barbara J Holland and Robert Holland, Jr., Charitable Fund dedicated to supporting programs focused on the educational advancement of minorities and encouraging their involvement with STEM. For those interested in helping to continue Holland’s charitable efforts, please email contact@HollandCharitableFund.com for additional information.

For more information, contact Maurice Cox by phone at 914 393-1254 or by email at Maurice.cox1@gmail.com.