Early Life
Abigail Pierrepont Johnson was born on December 19, 1961, in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the granddaughter of Edward C. Johnson II, the founder of Fidelity Investments. Growing up in Boston, she attended Buckingham Browne & Nichols School and graduated from William Smith College in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in art history.
Rise to Success
Johnson began her career at Fidelity Investments in 1988 as an analyst and portfolio manager. She earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1988. Over the years, she steadily climbed the ranks, becoming President of Fidelity Asset Management in 2001, Head of Retail, Workplace, and Institutional Business in 2005, President of Fidelity Financial Services in 2012, and finally, CEO in 2014. In 2016, she was named Chairman, giving her full control of the company.
Key Business Strategies
Under Johnson's leadership, Fidelity has focused on financial advice, brokerage services, and venture capital. She has embraced cryptocurrencies, launching a platform in 2018 for institutional investors to trade Bitcoin, Ether, and Litecoin. Fidelity has also introduced mutual funds with no fees and expenses. In March 2024, she was reasserting control over Fidelity's London outpost and has made significant changes to the structure.
Philanthropy
Abigail Johnson is committed to philanthropy and serves as the Chair of the Fidelity Charitable Board of Trustees. Through Fidelity Charitable, she supports various causes, including education, healthcare, and the arts.