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Amgen vs Morgan Stanley: Founders, CEOs and History

Amgen was founded in 1980 by George B. Rathmann, William K. Bowes Jr. and is led by Robert A. Bradway. Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley and is led by Ted Pick.

Company facts

Amgen

Founded
1980
Headquarters
Thousand Oaks, California
Current CEO
Robert A. Bradway
Employees
31,500

Morgan Stanley

Founded
1935
Headquarters
New York, New York, United States
Current CEO
Ted Pick
Employees
83,000

Founders

Amgen

  • George B. Rathmann

    Amgen, originally incorporated as Applied Molecular Genetics, was founded in 1980 not by a single scientist, but by a calculated syndicate of venture capitalists and academics trying to commercialize the brand-new science of recombinant DNA.

  • William K. Bowes Jr.

    William K. Bowes Jr. Was the venture capital strategist whose vision catalyzed Amgen's formation.

Amgen founders in full

Morgan Stanley

  • Henry S. Morgan

    Henry S. Morgan co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 after the Glass-Steagall Act required J.P. Morgan & Co. to separate its securities business from commercial banking.

  • Harold Stanley

    Harold Stanley (1885-1963) co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 alongside Henry S. Morgan. Following the passage of the Glass-Steagall Act, which forced banks to separate commercial and investment banking, Stanley left J.P. Morgan & Co.

Morgan Stanley founders in full

CEOs and their tenures

Amgen

  1. George B. Rathmann1980–1988

    Chief Executive Officer

    George Rathmann, a physical chemist who had run research and development at Abbott Laboratories, was named Amgen's first chief executive in 1980 and worked from a small trailer so that laboratory space could go to scientists.

    Source
  2. Gordon M. Binder1988–2000

    Chief Executive Officer

    Gordon Binder joined Amgen as chief financial officer in 1982 and led its June 1983 initial public offering.

    Source
  3. Kevin W. Sharer2000–2012

    Chief Executive Officer

    Kevin Sharer joined Amgen in 1992 as president and chief operating officer and became chairman and chief executive in 2000.

    Source
  4. Robert A. Bradway2012–present

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Robert Bradway became chief executive on May 23, 2012, succeeding Kevin Sharer as the fourth CEO in Amgen's history, and added the chairmanship at the start of 2013.

    Source
Amgen CEO history in full

Morgan Stanley

  1. James Gorman2010–2023

    Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Gorman's tenure moved Morgan Stanley toward recurring fee revenue. He became executive chairman after stepping down as CEO and left the board at the end of 2024.

    Source
  2. Ted Pick2024–present

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Under Pick, Morgan Stanley reported record 2025 net revenues of $70.6B and record Q2 2026 results.

    Source
Morgan Stanley CEO history in full

Timeline: Amgen and Morgan Stanley side by side

  1. 1935Morgan Stanley

    Morgan Stanley Founded

    Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley officially launch the top investment bank following the historic Glass-Steagall split.

  2. 1980Amgen

    Applied Molecular Genetics is incorporated

    Applied Molecular Genetics (AMGen) was incorporated on April 8, 1980 in Thousand Oaks, California, as the idea of venture capitalist William K. Bowes Jr. and a group of scientific collaborators.

  3. 1983Amgen

    Nasdaq listing and the erythropoietin clone

    Amgen completed its initial public offering on June 17, 1983, raising nearly US$40 million under chief financial officer Gordon Binder, and formally shortened its name to Amgen.

  4. 1984Amgen

    Kirin-Amgen joint venture formed

    Amgen and Kirin Brewery Company of Japan formed Kirin-Amgen in 1984 as a joint venture for the worldwide commercialization of erythropoietin.

  5. 1985Amgen

    G-CSF cloned, leading to Neupogen

    While Fu-Kuen Lin's team worked on erythropoietin, researcher Larry Souza and his group cloned and expressed human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in 1985.

  6. 1989Amgen

    FDA approves Epogen

    The FDA approved Epogen (epoetin alfa) on June 1, 1989 for anemia in patients with chronic kidney failure on dialysis. It was the first commercial recombinant human erythropoietin. Epogen's U.S.

  7. 1991Amgen

    Neupogen approved, giving Amgen a second franchise

    The FDA approved Neupogen (filgrastim) in February 1991. By stimulating white blood cell production it reduced the risk of infection in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

  8. 1991Amgen

    Amgen wins the erythropoietin patent fight

    On March 6, 1991 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the Kirin-Amgen erythropoietin patent and ruled against Genetics Institute in Amgen v. Chugai Pharmaceutical and Genetics Institute.

  9. 1996Morgan Stanley

    Acquired Van Kampen American Capital

    Morgan Stanley acquired Van Kampen American Capital in 1996.

  10. 1997Morgan Stanley

    Merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co

    Morgan Stanley merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co in February 1997.

  11. 2001Amgen

    FDA approves Aranesp, the longer-acting EPO

    Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), an erythropoietin analogue with modified glycosylation and a longer half-life, was approved in 2001. Less frequent dosing than Epogen improved convenience and gave Amgen a newer, higher-priced product to migrate patients toward.

  12. 2002Amgen

    US$16 billion Immunex acquisition brings Enbrel in-house

    Amgen completed its acquisition of Immunex Corporation on July 16, 2002, the largest biotechnology deal to that point at about US$16 billion in stock and cash.

  13. 2008Morgan Stanley

    Bank Holding Company Conversion

    Facing total catastrophic collapse, the firm converts into a traditional bank holding company to survive the global financial crisis.

  14. 2009Morgan Stanley

    The Smith Barney Acquisition

    then-CEO James Gorman masterminds the acquisition of Smith Barney, instantly creating a dominant retail wealth management leader.

  15. 2010Amgen

    Prolia and XGEVA create the bone health franchise

    The FDA approved Prolia (denosumab) for postmenopausal osteoporosis in June 2010 and XGEVA, the same molecule at a higher dose, for prevention of skeletal-related events in cancer patients in November 2010.

  16. 2018Morgan Stanley

    Acquired Mesa West

    Morgan Stanley acquired Mesa West in March 2018.

  17. 2019Amgen

    US$13.4 billion purchase of Otezla from Celgene

    Amgen agreed in August 2019 to buy worldwide rights to Otezla (apremilast) from Celgene for US$13.4 billion in cash, or about US$11.2 billion net of the present value of US$2.2 billion of anticipated future cash tax benefits, and closed on November 21, 2019.

  18. 2020Amgen

    Amgen joins the Dow Jones Industrial Average

    Amgen replaced Pfizer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on August 31, 2020, becoming one of the thirty components in the index. Inclusion recognized the scale Amgen had reached and added passive demand from Dow-tracking funds.

  19. 2020Morgan Stanley

    E*TRADE Acquisition

    Morgan Stanley dominates the self-directed brokerage market by acquiring E*TRADE for $13 billion.

  20. 2021Morgan Stanley

    Acquired Eaton Vance

    Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for $7 billion. Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for about $7B, completed in March 2021, adding Parametric, Calvert, and Atlanta Capital.

  21. 2023Amgen

    US$27.8 billion Horizon Therapeutics acquisition closes

    Amgen completed the acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics plc on October 6, 2023 for US$116.50 per share in cash, an equity value of about US$27.8 billion, after settling FTC litigation with a behavioral consent decree.

  22. 2024Amgen

    Imdelltra becomes the first T-cell engager for small cell lung cancer

    The FDA granted accelerated approval to tarlatamab, sold as Imdelltra, on May 16, 2024 for extensive stage small cell lung cancer that has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

  23. 2024Morgan Stanley

    Ted Pick Appointed CEO

    Following a competitive internal succession, Ted Pick takes the helm to heavily drive the integration strategy.

  24. 2025Amgen

    VESALIUS-CV extends the Repatha case to primary prevention

    In November 2025 Amgen reported Phase 3 VESALIUS-CV results in more than 12,000 patients with atherosclerosis or diabetes but no prior heart attack or stroke.

  25. 2026Amgen

    Medicare price setting reaches Enbrel and Otezla

    Enbrel's negotiated Medicare price under the Inflation Reduction Act took effect on January 1, 2026, after it was named in the first round of ten drugs selected for negotiation.

Acquisitions

Amgen

  • Horizon Therapeutics plc2023$27.8B
  • ChemoCentryx, Inc.2022$3.7B
  • Five Prime Therapeutics2021$1.9B
  • Celgene Otezla Business2019$13.4B
  • Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2013$10.4B
  • DeCODE Genetics2012$415M
All Amgen acquisitions

Morgan Stanley

  • Eaton Vance2021$7B
  • E*TRADE2020$13B
  • Smith Barney2009Undisclosed
All Morgan Stanley acquisitions

Questions about Amgen vs Morgan Stanley

Who is the CEO of Amgen Inc. and Morgan Stanley?

Amgen Inc. is led by Robert A. Bradway and Morgan Stanley is led by Ted Pick. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.

When was Amgen Inc. founded vs Morgan Stanley?

Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 — 45 years before Amgen Inc., which was founded in 1980. Morgan Stanley's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Amgen Inc..

How many employees does Amgen Inc. have compared to Morgan Stanley?

Amgen Inc. employs approximately 31,500 people, while Morgan Stanley employs approximately 83,000. Morgan Stanley has the larger workforce at 83,000 employees, compared to Amgen Inc.'s 31,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).

Where are Amgen Inc. and Morgan Stanley headquartered?

Both Amgen Inc. and Morgan Stanley are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.

Who founded Amgen Inc. and Morgan Stanley?

Amgen Inc. was founded by George B. Rathmann, William K. Bowes Jr.. Morgan Stanley was founded by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley.

Which company has a longer operating history — Amgen Inc. or Morgan Stanley?

Morgan Stanley has been operating for approximately 91 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Amgen Inc. has been in operation for around 46 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 Amgen vs Morgan Stanley overview

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.