Abigail Pierrepont Johnson^[1] (born December 19, 1961) is an American billionaire businesswoman. Since 2014, Johnson has been president and chief executive officer of American investment firm Fidelity Investments (FMR),^[2] and chairman of its international sister company Fidelity International (FIL). Fidelity was founded by her grandfather Edward C. Johnson II. Her father Edward C. "Ned" Johnson III remains chairman emeritus of FMR. As of March 2013, the Johnson family owned a 49% stake in the company, with Johnson herself holding an estimated 24.5%.^[3]

In November 2016, Johnson was named chairman and will remain CEO and president, giving her full control of Fidelity with 45,000 employees worldwide.^[4] Johnson's wealth is approximately $16 billion,^[5] making her one of the world's wealthiest women.

Early life and education

Johnson attended Cambridge, MA private school Buckingham Browne, and Nichols before graduating from Hobart and William Smith with a bachelor of arts degree in art history in 1984.^[6] After a brief stint as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton from 1985–86, Johnson completed an MBA at Harvard Business School.

Johnson worked in the family firm for 26 years, in a succession of obscure positions, but gradually began taking on more prominent roles. She developed a thorough knowledge of company dynamics before becoming CEO of Fidelity Investments at the age of 52. Since 2014, she’s put her own stamp on the business, moving the headquarters from sedate Devonshire Street offices to Boston’s go-ahead Seaport tech district.

Fidelity Investments

Upon graduating from Harvard Business School in 1988, Johnson joined Fidelity Investments - which her grandfather Edward Johnson II founded in 1946^[7] - as an analyst and portfolio manager. In 2001, she was promoted to President of Fidelity Asset Management. In 2005, she became Head of Retail, Workplace, and Institutional Business. She was named president in 2012. In 2014, she became CEO, a role her father had held since 1977,^[8] and in 2016 she became chairman as well.^[9]

Politics

In 2016, Johnson donated $2,700, the maximum amount legally allowed for presidential primary campaigns, to Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush.^[10]

Awards and honors

Johnson is a member of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation. She is a member of the board of directors of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). She is the first and only woman to serve on the board of the Financial Services Forum.^[11]

In 2022, "Forbes" ranked her as the 5th most powerful woman in the world.^[14] In 2018, "Forbes" ranked her as the 5th most powerful woman in the world. In 2016, "Forbes" ranked her as the 16th most powerful woman in the world. In 2015, she was ranked #19. In 2014, she was #34^[12], and in 2017 #7.^[13]