AbbVie Inc.
Leadership History
2 leaders · 2013 to present
Robert A. Michael is the CEO of AbbVie, in the role since 2024. The first chief executive was Richard A. Gonzalez, from 2013.
| Name | Role | From | To | Years in role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert A. Michael | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | Present | 2 |
| Richard A. Gonzalez | Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 2013 | 2024 | 11 |
AbbVie became an independent public biopharmaceutical company in January 2013 after Abbott Laboratories separated its research-based pharmaceutical business. Humira initially dominated its portfolio. AbbVie has since added Pharmacyclics, Allergan, ImmunoGen, and Cerevel and now reports major portfolios in immunology, neuroscience, oncology, and aesthetics. The company is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois.
AbbVie earns revenue from global sales of prescription medicines and Allergan Aesthetics products. Its FY2025 portfolios were led by immunology at $30.406 billion, neuroscience at $10.767 billion, oncology at $6.655 billion, and aesthetics at $4.860 billion. The company funds internal research and supplements its pipeline through licensing and acquisitions.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
2024 – Present
2 years (current)
Participated in development of AbbVie's diversified business strategy and in business development involving Allergan, ImmunoGen, and Cerevel before becoming CEO.
Became chief executive officer on July 1, 2024 and chairman on July 1, 2025. He previously led finance, commercial operations, and corporate strategy roles at AbbVie.
Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
2013 – 2024
11 years
Led AbbVie during the Pharmacyclics and Allergan acquisitions and the development and launch period for Skyrizi and Rinvoq.
Served as AbbVie's chief executive officer from its formation in 2013 through June 2024 and as executive chairman through June 2025.
AbbVie must manage biosimilar pressure on Humira, future patent cliffs, drug-pricing scrutiny, payer access constraints, pipeline risk, and intense competition from larger pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
Robert A. Michael became CEO on July 1, 2024 and chairman on July 1, 2025.
Richard A. Gonzalez was chairman and CEO at launch and served as CEO from 2013 through June 2024.
He held AbbVie leadership roles in financial planning, controllership, treasury, finance, commercial operations, and served as president and chief operating officer.
Gonzalez retired from the board effective July 1, 2025, after serving as executive chairman for one year.
Robert Michael assumed the CEO role in 2024, taking over from Richard Gonzalez, who had led the company since its inception in 2013.
Compare executive leadership tenures and strategic transitions
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