Cardinal Health vs JPMorgan Chase: Founders, CEOs and History
Cardinal Health was founded in 1971 by Robert D. Walter and is led by Jason M. Hollar. JPMorgan Chase was founded in 1799 by Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, John Pierpont Morgan and is led by Jamie Dimon.
Company facts
Cardinal Health
- Founded
- 1971
- Headquarters
- Dublin, Ohio, United States
- Current CEO
- Jason M. Hollar
- Employees
- 63,900
JPMorgan Chase
- Founded
- 1799
- Headquarters
- New York, New York
- Current CEO
- Jamie Dimon
- Employees
- 318,512
Founders
Cardinal Health
Robert D. Walter
Cardinal Health possesses a unique and unexpected founding history: the pharmaceutical distributor was not founded by a doctor or a pharmacist, but rather by an ambitious entrepreneur attempting to consolidate the wholesale food industry.
JPMorgan Chase
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, the New York lawyer and politician who later served as U.S. vice president, led the 1799 effort to charter the Manhattan Company.
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Treasury Secretary, is linked to JPMorgan Chase's history through his involvement in the 1799 Manhattan Company charter effort alongside Aaron Burr.
John Pierpont Morgan
J. Pierpont Morgan co-founded Drexel, Morgan & Co. with Anthony Drexel in 1871, the partnership that became J.P. Morgan & Co. in 1895. The firm financed railroads and organized industrial combinations such as U.S. Steel in 1901.
CEOs and their tenures
Cardinal Health
- Robert D. Walter1971–2006
Founder, Chairman, and CEO
Walter founded Cardinal Health in 1971 as a food wholesaler and pivoted to pharmaceutical distribution in 1979. He executed dozens of acquisitions that transformed the company from a small regional distributor into a $50+ billion healthcare conglomerate.
Source - Kerry Clark2006–2009
Chairman and CEO
Clark led Cardinal Health through a period of strategic repositioning, including the spin-off of the CareFusion medical technology business. He focused on improving operational efficiency and addressing the challenges of the post-Walter era.
Source - George Barrett2009–2017
Chairman and CEO
Barrett led Cardinal Health through significant strategic initiatives including the acquisition of the Patient Recovery business from Medtronic ($6.1 billion) and the establishment of the Red Oak Sourcing joint venture with CVS Health.
Source - Mike Kaufmann2018–2022
CEO
Kaufmann led Cardinal Health through the opioid litigation settlement and the COVID-19 pandemic, which created demand for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. He focused on operational execution and maintaining supply chain continuity during the crisis.
Source - Jason M. Hollar2022–present
CEO
Hollar joined Cardinal Health as CFO in 2020 and became CEO in September 2022. He has led the company through the OptumRx contract exit, the GMPD improvement plan, and acquisitions including GI Alliance, ADSG, and Solaris Health.
Source
JPMorgan Chase
- William B. Harrison Jr.2000–2005
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Harrison's tenure connects the creation of modern JPMorgan Chase with the leadership structure that followed. He oversaw the first stage of integrating Chase and Morgan, then added Bank One's consumer and middle-market operations.
Source - Jamie Dimon2006–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Dimon's tenure established the operating and risk framework associated with JPMorgan Chase's scale. The company combines Consumer & Community Banking, Commercial & Investment Bank, and Asset & Wealth Management rather than relying on one earnings engine.
Source - Jeremy Barnum2021–present
Chief Financial Officer
He oversees capital, liquidity and financial reporting for a $4.9 trillion balance sheet.
Source - Doug Petno2026–present
Co-President and CEO, Commercial & Investment Bank
He oversees JPMorgan's largest segment by managed revenue, which produced $78.5 billion in FY2025.
Source - Troy Rohrbaugh2026–present
Co-President and CEO, Consumer & Community Banking
He now runs the Chase consumer franchise, which produced $76.0 billion of FY2025 managed revenue.
Source
Timeline: Cardinal Health and JPMorgan Chase side by side
1799JPMorgan Chase
Manhattan Company Chartered
Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton led the effort to obtain a New York charter for the Manhattan Company.
1871JPMorgan Chase
Drexel, Morgan & Co. Formed
J. Pierpont Morgan and Anthony Drexel formed Drexel, Morgan & Co. in New York. The partnership developed into J.P. Morgan & Co., creating the Morgan banking lineage that would remain separate from Chase until the companies combined in 2000.
1907JPMorgan Chase
Panic of 1907
During the Panic of 1907, J. Pierpont Morgan organized bankers and other private participants to support strained financial institutions. The episode became a defining part of the Morgan firm's history in an era before the Federal Reserve existed.
1955JPMorgan Chase
Chase Manhattan Created
The Bank of the Manhattan Company merged with Chase National Bank to form Chase Manhattan Bank. This combination joined the firm's oldest 1799 predecessor with the Chase name and created the institution that later merged with J.P. Morgan.
1971Cardinal Health
Cardinal Foods Founded by Robert D. Walter
Robert D. Walter, a 26-year-old Harvard MBA graduate, borrowed $1.3 million to acquire the food-distribution division of Consolidated Foods in a leveraged buyout, establishing Cardinal Foods in Columbus, Ohio.
1979Cardinal Health
Pivot to Pharmaceutical Distribution
Walter acquired Bailey Drug Co., a pharmaceutical distributor in Zanesville, Ohio, marking Cardinal's entry into pharmaceutical distribution.
1983Cardinal Health
Cardinal Distribution Goes Public
Cardinal Distribution Inc. completed its initial public offering on the NASDAQ at $1.03 per share, providing capital for continued expansion through acquisitions.
1984Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Ellicott Drug
Cardinal acquired Ellicott Drug, a pharmaceutical distributor in Buffalo, New York, continuing the acquisition-driven expansion strategy that would define the company's growth for decades.
1988Cardinal Health
Sale of Food Operations to Roundy's Inc.
Cardinal sold its remaining food operations to Roundy's Inc., completing the company's transition from a diversified food and drug distributor to a pure-play pharmaceutical distribution company.
1994Cardinal Health
Name Change to Cardinal Health
The company changed its name from Cardinal Distribution to Cardinal Health, reflecting its expanding mission beyond pure distribution into healthcare services, manufacturing, and technology. Revenues exceeded $1 billion by 1991.
1995Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Medicine Shoppe International
Cardinal acquired Medicine Shoppe International, the country's largest franchise of retail pharmacies, marking the company's first significant non-distribution acquisition and entry into retail pharmacy.
1996Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Pyxis Corp.
Cardinal acquired Pyxis Corp., a manufacturer of automated supply and pharmaceutical dispensing systems for hospitals, adding medical technology capabilities to the company's portfolio.
1999Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Allegiance Healthcare Corp.
Cardinal acquired Allegiance Healthcare Corp. for approximately $4.4 billion, becoming a major player in the medical-surgical products market and establishing the foundation for what would become the Global Medical Products and Distribution segment.
2000JPMorgan Chase
Chase and J.P. Morgan Merge
Chase Manhattan and J.P. Morgan & Co. completed their merger, combining commercial and consumer banking with investment banking and institutional services. JPMorgan Chase identifies this transaction as the formation of the modern company.
2004JPMorgan Chase
Bank One Merger
JPMorgan Chase completed its $58.546 billion stock-for-stock merger with Bank One on July 1.
2006JPMorgan Chase
Jamie Dimon Becomes CEO
Jamie Dimon succeeded William B. Harrison Jr. as chief executive on January 1. Dimon had joined JPMorgan Chase as president and chief operating officer when the Bank One merger closed and became chairman one year after becoming CEO.
2008JPMorgan Chase
Bear Stearns Acquired
JPMorgan Chase completed its acquisition of Bear Stearns during the financial crisis.
2008JPMorgan Chase
Washington Mutual Operations Acquired
After Washington Mutual Bank entered FDIC receivership, JPMorgan Chase paid $1.9 billion to acquire its banking operations, including assets, deposits, and qualified financial contracts under the transaction terms.
2013Cardinal Health
Red Oak Sourcing Joint Venture with CVS
Cardinal Health and CVS Caremark announced the creation of Red Oak Sourcing, a 50/50 joint venture to form the largest generic pharmaceutical sourcing entity in the United States. The venture began operations in July 2014 with an initial 10-year term.
2014Cardinal Health
Loss of Walgreens Contract
Cardinal Health lost a major pharmaceutical distribution contract with Walgreens, which shifted its distribution to AmerisourceBergen. The contract had generated $3.3 billion in quarterly revenue.
2017Cardinal Health
Acquisition of Patient Recovery Business from Medtronic
Cardinal Health acquired the Patient Recovery business from Medtronic for $6.1 billion, expanding its medical products portfolio and adding significant scale to the Global Medical Products and Distribution segment.
2023JPMorgan Chase
First Republic Acquired from FDIC
JPMorgan Chase acquired the substantial majority of First Republic Bank's assets and assumed deposits and certain liabilities from the FDIC.
2024Cardinal Health
OptumRx Contract Non-Renewal Announced
Cardinal Health's pharmaceutical distribution contracts with OptumRx (part of UnitedHealth Group) expired at the end of June 2024 and were not renewed. They represented about $38.1 billion of fiscal 2024 revenue.
2025Cardinal Health
Fiscal 2025 Results and Raised FY2026 Guidance
Cardinal Health reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $222.6 billion, down about 2% after the OptumRx contract expiration, while net earnings rose to about $1.6 billion.
2025JPMorgan Chase
FY2025 Net Revenue of $182.447B
JPMorgan Chase reported U.S. GAAP total net revenue of $182.447 billion and net income of $57.048 billion. Its managed, fully taxable-equivalent segment presentation reported $185.581 billion of total net revenue across CCB, CIB, AWM, and Corporate.
2026Cardinal Health
Fiscal 2026 Revenue Reaches $254.2 Billion
Fiscal 2026 revenue rose 14% to $254.2 billion and non-GAAP EPS rose 37% to $11.26, with profit growth in all five operating segments.
2026JPMorgan Chase
Chase to Become Apple Card Issuer
On January 7, 2026 Apple and Chase announced that Chase will replace Goldman Sachs as Apple Card issuer over about 24 months.
2026JPMorgan Chase
Co-Presidents Named
Doug Petno and Troy Rohrbaugh were named co-presidents in June 2026, and Marianne Lake announced her retirement.
Acquisitions
Cardinal Health
- Advanced Diabetes Supply Group (ADSG)2025$1.1B
- Solaris Health (via The Specialty Alliance)2025$1.9B
- Integrated Oncology Network (ION)2024Undisclosed
- GI Alliance (71% stake)2024$2.8B
- Patient Recovery Business from Medtronic2017$6.1B
- Allegiance Healthcare Corp.1999Undisclosed
JPMorgan Chase
- First Republic Bank2023$10.6B
- The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.2008$1.5B
- Washington Mutual banking operations2008$1.9B
- Bank One Corporation2004$58.5B
- J.P. Morgan & Co.2000Undisclosed
Questions about Cardinal Health vs JPMorgan Chase
Who is the CEO of Cardinal Health, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co.?
Cardinal Health, Inc. is led by Jason M. Hollar and JPMorgan Chase & Co. is led by Jamie Dimon. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Cardinal Health, Inc. founded vs JPMorgan Chase & Co.?
JPMorgan Chase & Co. was founded in 1799 — 172 years before Cardinal Health, Inc., which was founded in 1971. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Cardinal Health, Inc..
How many employees does Cardinal Health, Inc. have compared to JPMorgan Chase & Co.?
Cardinal Health, Inc. employs approximately 63,900 people, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. employs approximately 318,512. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has the larger workforce at 318,512 employees, compared to Cardinal Health, Inc.'s 63,900. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Cardinal Health, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. headquartered?
Both Cardinal Health, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Cardinal Health, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co.?
Cardinal Health, Inc. was founded by Robert D. Walter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. was founded by Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, John Pierpont Morgan.
Which company has a longer operating history — Cardinal Health, Inc. or JPMorgan Chase & Co.?
JPMorgan Chase & Co. has been operating for approximately 227 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Cardinal Health, Inc. has been in operation for around 55 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 Cardinal Health vs JPMorgan Chase overview