Robert Ford
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Abbott
Robert B. Ford is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Abbott, a Fortune 100 health technology company with a leading portfolio of products and technologies in medical devices, diagnostics, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals, operating in more than 160 countries around the world.
An Abbott veteran, Robert previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer, where he led the company’s global pandemic response, innovating 12 different COVID-19 diagnostic tests around the world, as well as complementary digital applications. He earlier served as President and Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for all of Abbott’s operating businesses, as well as Executive Vice President, Medical Devices, where he led the company’s successful integration of St. Jude Medical and built Abbott’s portfolio of leading Cardiovascular, Diabetes Care and Neuromodulation businesses. Under his leadership, Abbott launched a robust, long-term sustainability plan focused on innovating life-changing technologies and products with a focus on expanding accessibility and affordability.
Robert is involved with several organizations that advance multi-sector relations and public policy to support a thriving global economy and economic prosperity for all. Those include the Business Roundtable, U.S.-China Business Council, U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum, the Economic Club of Chicago, and the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
He earned a bachelor's degree from Boston College and a master's degree in business administration from UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business.