UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
On November 12, 2019, Miles D. White informed Abbott Laboratories’ (“Abbott”) Board of Directors that he will step down as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 31, 2020.
On November 12, 2019, Abbott’s Board of Directors appointed Robert B. Ford, 46, as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 31, 2020, and named him to Abbott’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. The Board of Directors also appointed Mr. White as Executive Chairman of the Board, effective March 31, 2020.
Mr. Ford has served as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer since 2018, the Executive Vice President, Medical Devices from 2015 to 2018, Senior Vice President, Diabetes Care from 2014 to 2015, and Vice President, Diabetes Care, Commercial Operations from 2008 to 2014. He joined Abbott in 1996 and became a corporate officer in 2008.
Mr. Ford will not be compensated for serving on the Board.
A copy of Abbott’s press release announcing these changes is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
On November 12, 2019, Abbott’s Board of Directors amended the first sentence of Article III, Section 2 of Abbott’s by-laws to provide that Abbott’s Board of Directors shall consist of fifteen persons, effective as of November 12, 2019. Abbott’s by-laws previously provided that the Board of Directors consisted of fourteen persons.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit | ||
| 3.1 | By-Laws of Abbott Laboratories, as amended and restated effective November 12, 2019. | ||
| 99.1 | Press Release dated November 13, 2019. | ||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| ABBOTT LABORATORIES | ||
| Date: November 13, 2019 | By: | /s/ Brian B. Yoor |
| Brian B. Yoor | ||
| Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer | ||