AbbVie Inc.

BiopharmaceuticalFounded 2013

Explore AbbVie

Core profile pages, annual revenue records, and related research hubs for this company.

AbbVie Inc.

BiopharmaceuticalFounded 2013

Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya

Last reviewed: July 2026

Founders

Who Founded AbbVie?

Richard A. Gonzalez · Founded 2013 · North Chicago, Illinois

Quick Answer

AbbVie was founded by Richard A. Gonzalez in 2013 in North Chicago, Illinois. The company is currently led by Robert A. Michael.

Founding Story

AbbVie was created on January 1, 2013, when Abbott Laboratories separated its research-based pharmaceutical business from its diversified healthcare operations. Richard A. Gonzalez became founding CEO, and the new company began trading on the NYSE under ticker ABBV.

Richard A. Gonzalez

Co-founder 2013

Background

Richard A. Gonzalez spent decades at Abbott Laboratories before leading AbbVie as its founding chairman and CEO after the 2013 spin-off.

Role at AbbVie Inc.

Richard A. Gonzalez was AbbVie's founding CEO from the 2013 Abbott Laboratories spin-off through the 2024 CEO transition. His tenure covered Humira's peak, the Pharmacyclics and Allergan acquisitions, the beginning of U.S. Humira biosimilar competition, and the buildout of Skyrizi and Rinvoq as AbbVie's next immunology growth platform.

AbbVie Inc.: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Robert A. Michael

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2024 – Present

Michael became CEO in 2024 and now serves as chairman and CEO. He previously served as president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and a key architect of AbbVie's business development and diversified growth strategy.

Scott Reents

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

2023 – Present

Reents leads AbbVie's finance organization through debt management, capital allocation, dividend policy, investor communication, and the financial transition after Humira's U.S. loss of exclusivity.

Roopal Thakkar

Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer

2021 – Present

Thakkar leads AbbVie's R&D organization across immunology, oncology, neuroscience, aesthetics, and pipeline programs connected to both internal research and external innovation.

Richard A. Gonzalez

Founding Chairman and CEO

2013 – 2024

Gonzalez led AbbVie from its 2013 spin-off through Humira's peak, the Pharmacyclics acquisition, the Allergan acquisition, and the beginning of the Skyrizi/Rinvoq replacement strategy. He retired from the CEO role in 2024.

Who Founded AbbVie? FAQ

Who founded AbbVie?

AbbVie was formed by Abbott Laboratories through a 2013 spin-off, with Richard A. Gonzalez leading as founding CEO.

Was AbbVie a startup?

No. AbbVie began as a large public company carved out of Abbott's established pharmaceutical business.

Why is Richard Gonzalez linked to AbbVie's founding?

Gonzalez became AbbVie's founding CEO and shaped the company through Humira's peak, major acquisitions, and the post-Humira transition.

What did AbbVie inherit from Abbott?

AbbVie inherited Abbott's research-based pharma operations, Humira, global commercial infrastructure, and a specialty medicine pipeline.

Who leads AbbVie now?

Robert A. Michael leads AbbVie now as chairman and chief executive officer.