Abby Johnson has agreed to become Chief Executive Officer of

When Edward C. Johnson III, the longtime steward of Fidelity Investments, announced, “Abby Johnson has agreed to become Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity, reflecting a further step forward in our leadership succession plan. Abby will retain her role of President, and I will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board,” he spoke not merely as a businessman, but as a patriarch passing the torch of legacy. His words, though simple, carry the weight of centuries of wisdom about continuity, trust, and the sacred duty of stewardship. Beneath this quiet declaration lies the story of how leadership, like a flame, must be passed carefully—never allowed to flicker out, nor burn uncontrolled. It is a reminder that succession, when done with foresight and humility, preserves not only a company but the very spirit that built it.

The origin of this statement lies in the heart of one of America’s great financial dynasties. Edward C. Johnson III, who had led Fidelity Investments since the mid-1970s, had transformed it into one of the world’s most powerful investment firms. But his true strength was not only in growing wealth—it was in nurturing continuity. In his daughter, Abigail Johnson, he saw not merely an heir, but a leader forged in the