Kathy Warden and Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala are two well-known business leaders. Many people search for their date of birth, age and background. Maria was born on May 2, 1963, in Mexico City. She is 63 years old as of October 2026. Kathy Warden’s exact birth date is not public. Most profiles place her birth year around 1970 or 1971.
Kathy Warden is the chair, CEO and president of Northrop Grumman. Maria leads the family investment office Tresalia Capital and is known for her Grupo Modelo roots. This guide explains their age, education, careers, net worth and family life. It also answers a common question: are they related? Read on for clear facts from trusted public sources.
Table of Contents
Who Is Kathy Warden?
Kathy Warden is the chair, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman. She has served as CEO and president since January 1, 2019. She became chair of the board in August 2019.
Northrop Grumman is a large aerospace and defense technology company based in Falls Church, Virginia. It works in space, aeronautics, defense and cyber. Warden is one of the best-known women leading a major defense contractor.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kathy J. Warden |
| Current role | Chair, CEO and President, Northrop Grumman |
| CEO since | January 1, 2019 |
| Chair since | August 2019 |
| Born | About 1970 or 1971, based on public profiles |
| Education | James Madison University and George Washington University |
| Notable board seat | Merck & Co., since 2020 |
Early Education and Professional Background
Warden earned her bachelor’s degree at James Madison University. Public profiles place her graduation in 1992. She later completed an MBA at George Washington University, and the school’s alumni page lists the class of 1999.
Her early career was not in defense alone. She spent close to a decade at General Electric. She then worked at Veridian Corporation and at General Dynamics, where she served as vice president of intelligence systems. She was also a principal in a venture-backed internet firm.
That mix matters. It gave her experience in technology, services, government contracting and strategy before she joined Northrop Grumman.
Career at Northrop Grumman
Warden joined Northrop Grumman in 2008. She did not jump straight to the top. She moved through several operating roles over more than ten years.
- She led the Cyber Intelligence Division as vice president.
- She served as president of the Information Systems sector.
- She became president of the Mission Systems sector.
- She was named president and chief operating officer, overseeing the company’s sectors.
- She joined the board in 2018 and became CEO the following January.
She also led the integration of Orbital ATK, a major acquisition that expanded the company’s space business. Leaders who watch the sector often point to that work as a key proof point of her operating skill.
Leadership and Professional Influence
Warden’s influence reaches beyond one company. She sits on the board of Merck & Co. and has been active with Catalyst, a nonprofit focused on workplace inclusion. She is a member of the Business Roundtable and a past board chair of the Aerospace Industries Association. She has also served as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
She holds a seat on the James Madison University Board of Visitors. In 2022 she received the Deming Cup for Operational Excellence. She has also been named a Wash100 honoree several times, an award tied to government contracting leadership.
Who Is Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala?
Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala is a Mexican businesswoman and investor. Friends call her Mariasun. She is best known as an heir to the family stake in Grupo Modelo, the brewer behind Corona, and as the head of the family investment office Tresalia Capital.
Bloomberg’s wealth index lists her and her family at about $9.55 billion. Mexican media often call her one of the richest women in Mexico.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | María Asunción Aramburuzabala Larregui |
| Born | May 2, 1963, Mexico City |
| Known for | Grupo Modelo heritage, Tresalia Capital, AB InBev board service |
| Education | Accounting degree, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) |
| Family | Two sons, Santiago and Pablo Zapata Aramburuzabala |
Family Background and Business Beginnings
Her grandfather, Felix Aramburuzabala, was one of the founders of Cervecería Modelo, which was co-founded in 1925. Her father, Pablo Aramburuzabala, was a vice president at the brewer.
| Detail | Information |
| Birth | May 2, 1963, Mexico City |
| Grandfather | Felix Aramburuzabala, a co-founder of Cervecería Modelo |
| Father | Pablo Aramburuzabala, vice president at the brewer |
| Family brewery founded | 1925 |
| Father’s death | 1995 |
| Inheritance | Maria and her sister Lucrecia inherited his stake |
| Business start | Vice chair of Grupo Modelo and founder of Tresalia Capital in 1996 |
He died in 1995. Maria and her sister Lucrecia inherited his stake. Maria was in her early thirties. Bloomberg reported that she was pushed into leadership at a time when the family had no finished succession plan.
That early test shaped her style. She learned to negotiate with partners, manage a large shareholding and protect family wealth at the same time.
Tresalia Capital and Investment Activities
In 1996 she became vice chair of Grupo Modelo. The same year, Tresalia Capital was founded as the family’s investment vehicle. Bloomberg has described the family office as managing roughly $8 billion.
Tresalia has made direct investments in Mexican and international companies. Mexican business outlets list names such as Televisa, KIO Networks, Aliat Universidades, Medistik, Aeroméxico and Tory Burch. Startups such as Kavak, Gaia and Luuna are also reported in her portfolio.
The Grupo Modelo Transaction
The Grupo Modelo story is the most important chapter in her career. Early on, she helped lead talks to bring Anheuser-Busch in as a partner in the Mexican brewer. Later, Anheuser-Busch InBev acquired the rest of Modelo in a deal valued at about $20 billion.
Bloomberg reported that she helped convince other shareholders to approve the sale after the buyer raised its offer. She used part of her proceeds to buy AB InBev shares and joined its board alongside Valentin Diez Morodo. Bloomberg’s wealth index estimates that the family earned at least $3 billion through stake sales.
| Milestone | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1925 | Cervecería Modelo is co-founded by her grandfather and partners |
| 1995 | Her father dies and the family stake passes to the heirs |
| 1996 | She becomes vice chair of Grupo Modelo and Tresalia is founded |
| Later | Anheuser-Busch InBev buys the remaining Modelo shares |
| After the sale | She invests in AB InBev and joins its board |
Age and Education
Age and schooling are common search topics, so here is a clear snapshot. Maria was born on May 2, 1963, which makes her 63 years old as of October 2026. Kathy Warden’s exact birth date is not widely published. Public profiles place her birth year around 1970 or 1971, so she is in her mid-fifties.
| Person | Age | Undergraduate study | Graduate study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathy Warden | About 55 to 56 | James Madison University | MBA, George Washington University |
| Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala | 63 | Accounting, ITAM | Not widely reported |
Both women combined formal education with years of hands-on work. Warden trained in business and technology before entering defense. Aramburuzabala studied accounting, then learned governance through the family company.
Kathy Warden’s Net Worth and Salary
There is no official net worth statement for Kathy Warden. Any number you see online is an estimate. Most of her wealth is likely tied to Northrop Grumman stock and long-term equity awards.
Company filings give a clearer view of her pay than any wealth site does. A secondary analysis of the latest proxy data reports total compensation of about $24.4 million for 2024. Only a small part of that was base salary.
| Item | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Base salary (2024) | About $1.79 million |
| Annual incentive bonus | About $5.19 million |
| Stock awards | About $16.1 million |
| Total compensation (2024) | About $24.4 million |
| Share holding (MarketScreener, June 2026) | About 196,681 shares, valued near $100 million |
In August 2026, the board approved a one-time performance-based equity grant. The target was 35,910 market stock units, which pay out only if the share price rises over a period ending in 2031.
This is a useful reminder that executive pay depends heavily on stock performance. For the exact figures, read Northrop Grumman’s proxy statement and SEC filings.
Family and Personal Life
Both women keep their private lives fairly quiet, but some facts are public. Kathy Warden is married to Eric Warden. Both are James Madison University graduates. They created a $1.5 million scholarship match program for Pell Grant eligible students at the school.
Maria’s family story is more closely tied to the family business and to Mexican public life. The next sections cover her background, career, wealth and household.
Family Background and Grupo Modelo
The Aramburuzabala family is part of the founding story of Grupo Modelo. Her grandfather helped build the brewery. Her father worked inside it. When he died, the family decided to keep its stake and stay involved in the business. That decision shaped the family’s next three decades. It also explains why her name is tied so closely to Corona.
Career and Tresalia Capital
Beyond the brewery, her career is about governance and investing. She became vice chair of Grupo Modelo and later served on the AB InBev board. Public filings also list her as a director at Coty Inc.
Mexican media report that she was the first woman to serve as an advisor on the Mexican stock exchange board, and that she took part in an international advisory committee of the New York Stock Exchange. Treat these details as reported claims and check official sources when you cite them.
María Asunción Aramburuzabala’s Net Worth
Bloomberg lists her net worth at about $9.55 billion, including family assets. Earlier Mexican reports used a figure near $9 billion. Another Bloomberg story cites about $8.2 billion for Tresalia, the family office.
The numbers differ because they measure different things. One counts the family office. Another counts personal and family wealth together. Private holdings are also hard to value.
Marriage, Children, and Lifestyle
She married Antonio O. Garza Jr., a former United States ambassador to Mexico, on April 23, 2005, in Valle de Bravo. Mexican media report that her earlier marriage lasted about fifteen years and produced two sons, Santiago and Pablo Zapata Aramburuzabala.
Both sons are now in their thirties. She lives in Mexico and rarely shares details about daily life, so beyond these facts, be careful with gossip pages and unsourced lifestyle claims.
Kathy Warden and Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala: Key Differences
The two women both hold high-level corporate roles. Their paths, though, are very different.
| Area | Kathy Warden | Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | Mexico |
| Main role | Salaried chief executive | Investor and family office leader |
| Industry | Aerospace and defense | Beer heritage and private investments |
| Source of wealth | Pay, stock and equity awards | Inheritance, asset sales and investments |
| Public company link | CEO and chair of Northrop Grumman | Board seats at AB InBev and Coty |
| Estimated wealth | Around $100 million in shares, by one estimate | About $9.55 billion with family, per Bloomberg |
| Career path | Climbed through operating roles | Took over a family stake at a young age |
In short, Warden manages a company she does not own. Aramburuzabala manages money her family built and owns.
Are Kathy Warden and Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala Related?
No. There is no public record of any family relationship between them. They come from different countries, family histories and industries. The confusion likely comes from search habits. When two high-profile women appear in the same lists, people assume a link.
Did They Work Together?
There is no public evidence that they ever worked together. Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor. Tresalia is a family investment office with a beer and consumer background.
Both women have served on large public company boards, but at different companies. Being active in the same wider business world is not the same as working together. If you see a claim of a partnership, ask for the source.
Why Are Their Names Searched Together?
People search for the two names together for a few simple reasons. None of them point to a shared business. They reflect curiosity about success stories and about who holds influence in business.
Interest in Successful Businesswomen
Lists of powerful women in business often include executives, founders and heirs. Readers move from one name to the next while comparing paths. Warden is a CEO who rose through the ranks. Aramburuzabala is an heir who also built an investment group. The contrast makes the pairing interesting.
Interest in Wealth and Corporate Influence
Many readers want to know how money and power work in business. A salaried CEO and a billionaire investor show two different answers. One earns large pay packages and equity. The other holds ownership in private and public assets.
Search Engines and Online Comparisons
Search tools suggest related names based on what users click. One curious search can create a pattern that others follow. That is why unrelated people sometimes appear side by side in suggestions. It says more about user behavior than about the two women.
Net Worth and Financial Success
Wealth is easy to misread. A CEO’s pay, a family’s fortune and a company’s value are three separate things. Keep these definitions in mind:
- Compensation is what a person earns each year in salary, bonus and stock awards.
- Net worth is the value of assets minus debts.
- Family office assets are pooled investments managed for relatives, not one person’s personal wealth.
Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala’s Estimated Wealth
Bloomberg places her wealth near $9.55 billion with family. Much of it came from the Grupo Modelo stake and the later AB InBev deal. Since then, Tresalia has spread money across media, education, aviation, fashion and technology. Because many holdings are private, outside estimates will always carry some error.
Kathy Warden’s Personal Wealth
Her wealth is much smaller than a billionaire’s, yet it is still very large by normal standards. One data provider values her Northrop Grumman shares at around $100 million as of June 2026. Some websites publish far lower numbers with little proof. For her pay, use proxy filings. For her share holdings, use SEC insider reports.
What Their Careers Teach About Business Leadership
Their stories look different, but a few lessons apply to anyone in business.
1. Build Expertise Over Time
Warden spent years at GE, Veridian, General Dynamics and then Northrop Grumman before becoming CEO. Each job added a skill. Aramburuzabala also learned fast, because her responsibility arrived early. Both cases show that deep knowledge builds trust.
2. Think Beyond One Business
Aramburuzabala did not keep all her wealth in beer. She built Tresalia and invested in new sectors. Warden sits on boards outside defense, including Merck. Wider exposure helps leaders spot risk and opportunity.
3. Separate Influence From Ownership
A CEO can shape a company without owning most of it. An investor can own a lot and still rely on managers. Knowing which role you hold changes how you make decisions and how you measure success.
4. Verify Claims Before Repeating Them
Public figures attract rumors. Net worth numbers, family claims and fake links spread quickly. Check company filings, official biographies and trusted financial outlets before you share a fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kathy Warden?
Kathy Warden is the chair, CEO and president of Northrop Grumman. She has been CEO since January 2019.
Who is Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala?
She is a Mexican businesswoman and investor who leads Tresalia Capital. She inherited a stake in Grupo Modelo, the maker of Corona.
Are Kathy Warden and Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala related?
No. There is no public record of any family or business relationship between them.
How rich is Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala?
Bloomberg estimates her wealth with family at about $9.55 billion. Private holdings make exact figures hard to confirm.
How much does Kathy Warden earn?
Reports based on proxy data put her 2024 total compensation at about $24.4 million. Most of it came from stock awards.
How old is Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala?
She was born on May 2, 1963, so she is 63 years old as of October 2026.
Where did Kathy Warden study?
She earned a bachelor’s degree at James Madison University and an MBA at George Washington University.
Final Thoughts
Kathy Warden and Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala share a spot in conversations about influential businesswomen, but their stories are not connected. Warden rose through operating roles to lead a defense giant. Aramburuzabala took over a family stake early, negotiated one of the biggest brewery deals in Latin America and built an investment group.
If you research either woman, rely on filings, official profiles and reputable financial reporting. Wealth numbers change often, and many pages repeat old figures. Checking the source is the simplest way to keep your information accurate.
