CEO Update: Miles D. White served as Abbott Laboratories CEO from 1999 to March 2020 and as Executive Chairman until December 2021, when he retired after 38 years with the company. Robert B. Ford succeeded White as President & CEO on March 31, 2020, and became Chairman of the Board in December 2021. This article has been fully updated to reflect the current Abbott CEO.
Abbott Laboratories, a Fortune 500 global healthcare leader founded in 1888, operates across 160+ countries with a diversified portfolio spanning medical devices, diagnostics, nutritional products, and established pharmaceuticals. Today, Abbott CEO Robert B. Ford leads the company’s $42 billion business and a workforce of approximately 115,000 employees. Appointed CEO in March 2020 — just as the COVID-19 pandemic struck — Ford rapidly mobilized Abbott’s diagnostics capabilities to deliver hundreds of millions of rapid tests worldwide. Under his leadership, Abbott has achieved record revenues, expanded FreeStyle Libre into the world’s most successful medical device franchise, and grown its market capitalization to over $200 billion.
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Robert B. Ford – Quick Facts
Abbott Laboratories Competitors
Abbott Laboratories operates in the highly competitive global healthcare industry, spanning medical devices, diagnostics, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals. The key competitors of Abbott include:
- Johnson & Johnson – diversified healthcare giant competing across medical devices and consumer health
- Medtronic – world’s largest pure-play medical device company
- Thermo Fisher Scientific – leader in life sciences and diagnostics
- Roche Holding – Swiss healthcare leader in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals
- Danaher Corporation – diversified science and technology conglomerate
- Siemens Healthineers – major competitor in medical imaging and diagnostics
- Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) – global medical technology company
- Stryker Corporation – leading orthopedic and medical device maker
Robert Ford Net Worth 2026 – Abbott CEO Salary
As of 2026, Robert Ford net worth is estimated at approximately $50–120 million USD, based on his disclosed Abbott stock holdings and SEC filings. Ford directly owns approximately 417,462 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock, valued at over $52 million at recent market prices. When including vested stock options, deferred compensation, and accumulated cash savings from years of multi-million-dollar compensation, estimates from various sources range significantly higher.
Abbott CEO Compensation Breakdown (FY2024)
Abbott Net Worth 2026 – Is Abbott Profitable?
Yes, Abbott Laboratories is a highly profitable company and one of the largest healthcare corporations in the world. Under Abbott CEO Robert Ford, the company has delivered strong financial performance, with a market capitalization exceeding $200 billion as of early 2026.
Abbott Laboratories Financial Summary (FY2024)
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Abbott CEO Email Address | Robert Ford Contact
Below are the official contact details and social media profiles for Abbott CEO Robert Ford:
Career & Education – Company, University, & College
Robert Ford’s career is defined by a remarkable nearly three-decade journey within Abbott Laboratories, rising from a young professional in the diabetes care division to the company’s top leadership role. Born and raised in Brazil by an American mother and a Brazilian father, Ford brings a distinctly global perspective to Abbott’s operations across 160+ countries.
Robert Ford Career Timeline
Before joining Abbott, Robert Ford began his career as a product manager at Becton Dickinson (BD). In 1996, he joined Abbott Laboratories in Brazil within the company’s Diabetes Care business. He quickly rose through the ranks, holding leadership positions across multiple divisions including Nutrition and Diagnostics.
As SVP of Diabetes Care, Ford oversaw the development and launch of FreeStyle Libre, the revolutionary continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system that would become the most successful medical device product in history. In 2015, he was promoted to Executive Vice President of Medical Devices, where he led Abbott’s Diabetes Care, Cardiovascular, and Neuromodulation businesses and oversaw the critical integration of St. Jude Medical — Abbott’s largest acquisition at the time.
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In October 2018, Ford was named President and Chief Operating Officer. On March 31, 2020, he became Abbott’s 13th CEO in the company’s then-131-year history. Just days into his tenure, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated, and Ford led Abbott’s rapid development of multiple diagnostic tests, including a portable molecular test delivering results in just 5–13 minutes. Abbott produced over 400 million COVID-19 tests in 2020 alone. In December 2021, he was elected Chairman of the Board.
Education


Robert Ford Wiki – Age, Family, & More
Abbott CEO Robert B. Ford (age 52, born November 14, 1973) was born and raised in Brazil by an American mother and a Brazilian father. This bicultural upbringing gave him a global outlook that has served him well leading a company with operations in over 160 countries. Ford is married to Juliana Ford, and the couple has two sons, Marco and Tito. In 2008, the Ford family — including their then-3-year-old son and a newborn — moved from Brazil to California when Robert took a role at Abbott Diabetes Care.
Outside of work, Ford enjoys playing guitar, cooking, and spending time with his family. He is known for his collaborative leadership style and was one of the youngest executives to rise to the C-suite at Abbott, becoming COO at age 45.
Notable Achievements & Recognitions
- COVID-19 Pandemic Response – Led Abbott’s rapid development and deployment of over 400 million COVID-19 tests in 2020, including the industry-first portable 5-minute molecular test
- FreeStyle Libre Architect – Oversaw development of the world’s most successful medical device, now used by 7+ million people globally with $6.8B in annual revenue
- St. Jude Medical Integration – Successfully led the integration of Abbott’s largest acquisition ($25B+)
- CEO1000 Ranking – Ranked No. 106 on Chief Executive and RHR International’s CEO1000 Tracker of top public/private company CEOs
- Elite Leadership IMPACT Award – Honored with the 2020 Elite Leadership IMPACT Award for his pandemic response
- Crain’s Chicago Business – Named to the 2024 Who’s Who in Chicago Business
- CEO Today Top 50 – Included in CEO Today Magazine’s list of the world’s top 50 CEOs
- Boston College Trustee – Elected to the Board of Trustees at Boston College in 2025
Ford has credited his parents for providing him with education, values, and drive, and his wife Juliana for supporting him at every step of his career. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Boston College, his alma mater.
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About Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois. Founded in 1888 by Dr. Wallace Calvin Abbott, it is one of the oldest and most diversified healthcare companies in the world. Abbott operates across four major business segments:
Abbott trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ABT. The company was notably the parent of AbbVie, which was spun off in January 2013 under former CEO Miles White to separate its research-based pharmaceutical business. Today, Abbott employs approximately 115,000 people in more than 160 countries and has been named one of the world’s most admired companies by Fortune magazine for over a decade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current CEO of Abbott Laboratories?
The current CEO of Abbott Laboratories is Robert B. Ford, who was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer on March 31, 2020, and became Chairman of the Board in December 2021. Ford succeeded Miles D. White, who had led Abbott as CEO for 21 years (1999–2020). Ford is a nearly 30-year Abbott veteran who joined the company in 1996.
What is Robert Ford’s net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Robert Ford’s net worth is estimated at $50–120 million USD, based on his SEC-disclosed Abbott stock holdings (approximately 417,462 shares worth over $52 million) plus accumulated stock options, deferred compensation, and savings from years of $20+ million annual compensation packages.
What is Abbott CEO’s salary?
Robert Ford’s total compensation for fiscal year 2024 was approximately $22.7 million, including a $1.5 million base salary, $2.86 million annual bonus, $8.23 million in stock options, $8.23 million in stock awards, and $619,000 in other compensation. Over 93% of his pay is performance-based.
What is Abbott CEO’s email address?
Abbott CEO Robert Ford’s email address is [email protected]. The corporate headquarters can be reached at (224) 667-6100 at 100 Abbott Park Road, Abbott Park, IL 60064. For investor inquiries, visit abbottinvestor.com.
What did Robert Ford do before becoming CEO?
Before becoming Abbott’s CEO, Robert Ford spent nearly his entire career at Abbott, joining in 1996 in the Diabetes Care division. He rose through leadership roles across Nutrition and Medical Devices, served as SVP of Diabetes Care (overseeing the FreeStyle Libre launch), EVP of Medical Devices (leading the St. Jude Medical integration), and President & COO (2018–2020). Before Abbott, he worked as a product manager at Becton Dickinson.
Is Abbott Laboratories a profitable company?
Yes, Abbott Laboratories is highly profitable. In fiscal year 2024, the company reported net income of $13.4 billion, a 134% increase year-over-year, on revenue of $42.0 billion. Abbott has a market capitalization exceeding $200 billion, a gross margin of 50.9%, and has been a consistent dividend payer for decades.
Article last updated:February 2026March 2, 2026