AbbVie vs TotalEnergies: Founders, CEOs and History
AbbVie was founded in 2013 by Abbott Laboratories (spin-off origin) and is led by Robert A. Michael. TotalEnergies was founded in 1924 by Raymond Poincaré, Ernest Mercier and is led by Patrick Pouyanné.
Company facts
AbbVie
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- North Chicago, Illinois
- Current CEO
- Robert A. Michael
- Employees
- 57,000
TotalEnergies
- Founded
- 1924
- Headquarters
- Paris, France
- Current CEO
- Patrick Pouyanné
- Employees
- 100,000
Founders
AbbVie
Abbott Laboratories (spin-off origin)
Abbott Laboratories was AbbVie's corporate predecessor. AbbVie's official launch materials describe the company as formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott. Richard A.
TotalEnergies
Raymond Poincaré
Raymond Poincaré was President of France during World War I and Prime Minister when his government pushed for a national oil company in 1924.
Ernest Mercier
Ernest Mercier was the industrialist chosen to set up and chair Compagnie Française des Pétroles.
CEOs and their tenures
AbbVie
- Richard A. Gonzalez2013–2024
Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Served as AbbVie's chief executive officer from its formation in 2013 through June 2024 and as executive chairman through June 2025.
Source - Robert A. Michael2024–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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.
Source
TotalEnergies
- Thierry Desmarest1995–2007
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under his leadership, Total more than doubled in size, becoming a dominant global supermajor capable of competing with Exxon and Shell.
Source - Christophe de Margerie2007–2014
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
He transformed Total into one of the most geographically diverse supermajors before his sudden death in a plane crash in 2014.
Source - Patrick Pouyanné2014–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
CEO since October 2014 and Chairman since December 2015, Pouyanné renamed the company TotalEnergies in 2021, expanded LNG and Integrated Power, and kept returns at the top of the majors (12.6% ROACE in 2025).
Source - Jean-Pierre Sbraire2019–present
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, he fortified the balance sheet during unprecedented energy market volatility following the geopolitical shocks of 2022.
Source
Timeline: AbbVie and TotalEnergies side by side
1924TotalEnergies
Compagnie Francaise des Petroles founded
The French state-backed oil company was created to secure access to petroleum resources and became the predecessor of TotalEnergies.
1954TotalEnergies
Total Brand Created
The company created the Total brand in 1954 to build a retail distribution network.
1995TotalEnergies
Thierry Desmarest becomes CEO
Thierry Desmarest became CEO of TotalEnergies in 1995. Led Total from 1995 to 2007 and engineered the Petrofina and Elf Aquitaine combinations; remained Chairman until 2010.
1999TotalEnergies
Petrofina acquired; Elf Aquitaine follows in 2000
Total combined with Belgium's Petrofina in 1999 and Elf Aquitaine in 2000, operating as TotalFinaElf before reverting to Total in 2003.
2000TotalEnergies
Elf Aquitaine Acquired
Total acquired Elf Aquitaine in 2000, forming TotalFinaElf.
2007TotalEnergies
Christophe de Margerie becomes CEO
Christophe de Margerie became CEO of TotalEnergies in 2007. CEO from 2007 and Chairman from 2010 until his death in a plane accident at Moscow's Vnukovo airport in October 2014.
2011TotalEnergies
Acquired SunPower (majority stake)
TotalEnergies acquired SunPower (majority stake).
2013AbbVie
AbbVie Launches as an Independent Company
AbbVie launched after Abbott Laboratories separated its research-based pharmaceutical business and began NYSE trading under ABBV.
2015AbbVie
Pharmacyclics Acquisition Completed
AbbVie completed its acquisition of Pharmacyclics, adding Imbruvica and expanding its hematologic oncology business.
2018TotalEnergies
Direct Energie acquired
Total bought French power and gas retailer Direct Energie, the base of its European retail electricity business.
2019AbbVie
Skyrizi Receives Initial U.S. Approval
The FDA approved Skyrizi for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in April 2019.
2019AbbVie
Rinvoq Receives Initial U.S. Approval
The FDA approved Rinvoq for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in August 2019.
2020AbbVie
Allergan Acquisition Completed
AbbVie completed the Allergan acquisition, adding neuroscience, eye care, and Allergan Aesthetics products including Botox and Juvederm.
2021TotalEnergies
Total becomes TotalEnergies
The company changed its name to TotalEnergies to reflect a broader multi-energy strategy spanning oil, gas, electricity, renewables, and low-carbon energy.
2023AbbVie
U.S. Humira Biosimilar Competition Begins
Humira began facing U.S. biosimilar competition, and AbbVie reported a subsequent decline in Humira revenue.
2024AbbVie
ImmunoGen Acquisition Completed
AbbVie completed its acquisition of ImmunoGen, adding Elahere and antibody-drug conjugate programs.
2024AbbVie
Robert A. Michael Becomes CEO
Robert A. Michael succeeded Richard A. Gonzalez as chief executive officer effective July 1, 2024.
2024AbbVie
Cerevel Therapeutics Acquisition Completed
AbbVie completed its acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics, adding clinical-stage neuroscience programs.
2025AbbVie
Robert A. Michael Becomes Chairman
Robert A. Michael added the chairman role effective July 1, 2025, when Richard A. Gonzalez retired from the board.
2025AbbVie
FY2025 Revenue Reaches $61.160 Billion
AbbVie reported FY2025 net revenue of $61.160 billion and net income of $4.226 billion.
2025TotalEnergies
2025 results
Revenues from sales of $182.344 billion, adjusted net income of $15.6 billion (down 15%), IFRS net income of $13.127 billion and a €3.40 dividend.
2026AbbVie
Q1 2026 Revenue Reaches $15.002 Billion
AbbVie reported first-quarter 2026 net revenue of $15.002 billion, up 12.4 percent on a reported basis.
2026TotalEnergies
Mozambique LNG full restart
On January 29, 2026, Patrick Pouyanné and President Daniel Chapo announced the full restart of the roughly $20 billion Mozambique LNG project after force majeure was lifted in November 2025.
2026TotalEnergies
Q2 2026 results
Adjusted net income of $6.0 billion and cash flow of $9.8 billion in the second quarter as higher oil prices tied to the Middle East conflict lifted earnings.
Acquisitions
AbbVie
- ImmunoGen, Inc.2024$10.1B
- Cerevel Therapeutics2024$8.7B
- Allergan plc2020$63B
- Pharmacyclics, Inc.2015$21B
TotalEnergies
- Direct Energie2018$1.6B
- Saft Groupe2016Undisclosed
- SunPower (majority stake)2011Undisclosed
- Petrofina and Elf Aquitaine1999Undisclosed
Questions about AbbVie vs TotalEnergies
Who is the CEO of AbbVie Inc. and TotalEnergies SE?
AbbVie Inc. is led by Robert A. Michael and TotalEnergies SE is led by Patrick Pouyanné. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was AbbVie Inc. founded vs TotalEnergies SE?
TotalEnergies SE was founded in 1924 — 89 years before AbbVie Inc., which was founded in 2013. TotalEnergies SE's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger AbbVie Inc..
How many employees does AbbVie Inc. have compared to TotalEnergies SE?
AbbVie Inc. employs approximately 57,000 people, while TotalEnergies SE employs approximately 100,000. TotalEnergies SE has the larger workforce at 100,000 employees, compared to AbbVie Inc.'s 57,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are AbbVie Inc. and TotalEnergies SE headquartered?
AbbVie Inc. is headquartered in United States and TotalEnergies SE is headquartered in France. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded AbbVie Inc. and TotalEnergies SE?
AbbVie Inc. was founded by Abbott Laboratories (spin-off origin). TotalEnergies SE was founded by Raymond Poincaré, Ernest Mercier.
Which company has a longer operating history — AbbVie Inc. or TotalEnergies SE?
TotalEnergies SE has been operating for approximately 102 years, making it the more established of the two companies. AbbVie Inc. has been in operation for around 13 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the AbbVie vs TotalEnergies overview