Nasdaq Taps Adena Friedman as CEO Starting in 2017

Bob Greifeld, Nasdaq's CEO since 2003, will remain at the exchange operator, serving as chairman of the board. Greifeld was featured on the cover of the May issue of Waters.

Borje Ekholm, Nasdaq's current chairman, will step down on December 31, but will remain on the board of directors. On January 16, he will start a new position as president and CEO of Ericsson, a Stockholm-based communications technology company.

"Naming Adena CEO represents the successful conclusion of a rigorous, multi-year succession planning process," said Ekholm, in a statement. "Adena is uniquely qualified for this role. For nearly two decades, she has steadily risen through the leadership ranks, beginning as a Nasdaq intern. During this time, she acquired deep expertise across a broad range of business and operational areas, as well as instituting a sharp focus on technology, all of which will drive the future of Nasdaq."

Friedman initially joined Nasdaq in 1993, and would eventually serve as head of data products, head of strategy and CFO. She left for The Carlyle Group in 2011 to serve as the buy-side firm's CFO. She returned to Nasdaq in June 2014, taking over listing services, information services and technology solutions. She took on the role of COO in December 2015.

"I am truly excited about the opportunity to lead this exceptional company," said Friedman, in a statement. "Over my nearly 20 years here, the great people at Nasdaq, with their tremendous entrepreneurial spirit, have driven our success as a global leader of markets, a technology pioneer, and a high-integrity exchange operator. Together, we will continue our journey from one of the earliest fintech companies, to a global leader whose technology powers more than 100 marketplaces around the world. We are a relentless, client-centric organization and we will continue that focus, always striving to develop new products that meet our clients' most critical needs. Importantly, I want to thank Bob for his tremendous leadership that brought us to this point, as well as his mentorship and friendship over the years. I look forward to our continued work together in his new role as chairman."