Robert Ford
Summary
Robert Ford is Abbott’s Executive Chairman, President & CEO, having become President and CEO in March 2020 and Chairman in December 2021. ([abbott.com](https://www.abbott.com/en-us/about-abbott/leadership/executive-team/robert-ford?utm_source=openai))
Biography
Ford joined Abbott in 1996 through its Diabetes Care business and later held senior leadership roles across the company’s medical-device operations. Before becoming CEO, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer and as Executive Vice President of Medical Devices, overseeing Diabetes Care, Cardiovascular and Neuromodulation. ([abbott.com](https://www.abbott.com/en-us/about-abbott/leadership/executive-team/robert-ford?utm_source=openai)) He earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. As CEO, Ford has led Abbott through the COVID-19 testing period, the continued expansion of the FreeStyle Libre diabetes portfolio and a broad push in cardiovascular and structural-heart products. In March 2026, Abbott completed its approximately $20.6 billion acquisition of Exact Sciences, expanding the company into cancer screening and precision-oncology diagnostics. ([abbott.com](https://www.abbott.com/en-us/about-abbott/leadership/executive-team/robert-ford?utm_source=openai))
Notable achievements
- Led Abbott’s executive transition to an internally developed CEO, succeeding Miles White in March 2020. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800/000104746921000592/a2242988zdef14a.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Oversaw continued development and commercialization of the FreeStyle Libre continuous-glucose-monitoring portfolio. ([abbott.com](https://www.abbott.com/en-us/corpnewsroom/products-and-innovation/how-a-diabetes-breakthrough-was-born?utm_source=openai))
- Helped guide strong 2025 growth in Abbott’s heart-failure, structural-heart and electrophysiology businesses. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800/000162828026010185/abt-20251231.htm))
- Completed Abbott’s acquisition of Exact Sciences on March 23, 2026, adding products including Cologuard and Oncotype DX to Abbott’s diagnostics portfolio. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800/000162828026028357/abt-20260331.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Continued portfolio expansion through acquisitions such as Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., whose atherectomy technology complemented Abbott’s vascular-device business. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800/000162828026010185/abt-20251231.htm))
Problem areas / controversies
- Abbott’s February 2022 recall of certain Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered formulas led to a prolonged Sturgis, Michigan plant shutdown and contributed to severe U.S. infant-formula shortages. ([fda.gov](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/abbott-voluntarily-recalls-powder-formulas-manufactured-one-plant?utm_source=openai))
- The U.S. Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation in November 2022 related to Abbott’s infant-formula manufacturing, creating an ongoing regulatory and reputational issue for the company during Ford’s tenure. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800/000162828023004026/abt-20221231.htm?utm_source=openai))
- The Exact Sciences transaction required substantial borrowing; Abbott disclosed $20 billion of acquisition-related debt financing, increasing leverage and placing added pressure on integration and future returns. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800/000162828026028357/abt-20260331.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Abbott’s COVID-19 testing revenue declined sharply as pandemic demand receded, falling from $1.6 billion in 2023 to $747 million in 2024 and $297 million in 2025. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800/000162828026010185/abt-20251231.htm))