Adena Friedman
Adena Friedman is the Chair and CEO of Nasdaq, a leading global provider of trading, clearing, exchange technology, and listing services. As the first woman CEO to lead a global stock exchange, Adena has played a pivotal role in transforming Nasdaq into a cutting-edge financial technology company. She provides a benchmark for the performance of publicly-traded technology companies for investors around the world. Adena is a prominent business executive and leader in the financial space. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to the industry. Prior to rejoining Nasdaq in 2014, she served as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, the fourth largest private equity firm in the world, and played a significant role in taking the company public in December 2012. In addition to her corporate responsibilities, Adena has been outspoken on the topic of women in leadership and is an avid supporter of mentoring and career opportunities for women in the financial services industry.
Adena Friedman Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Chair and CEO
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President and Chief Operating Officer
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Chief Financial Officer
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Chief Financial Officer
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Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Data Products
Academic History
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Master of Business Administration (MBA)
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B.A., Political Science and Government
NASDAQ HIGHLIGHTS
Adena is credited with significant contributions that shaped Nasdaq's strategic transformation to a leading global exchange and technology solutions company with operations on six continents.
Under her guidance, Nasdaq has continued to innovate and drive forward in the rapidly changing landscape of financial markets.
In addition to pursuing growth opportunities—such as diversifying Nasdaq into data research services and software as a service (SaaS)—she has leveraged Nasdaq as an "engine for capitalism" that makes investing more accessible by bringing companies back to the public market.
She played an instrumental role in the company's acquisition strategy, overseeing the acquisitions of INET, OMX, and the Philadelphia and Boston Exchanges.
NASDAQ CAREER
Adena originally joined Nasdaq in 1993. Prior to her current role, she held various leadership positions at Nasdaq, including Chief Financial Officer and President of Global Corporate and Information Technology Solutions.
She rejoined Nasdaq in 2014 as President to oversee the technology, information, and corporate businesses that comprised over two-thirds of Nasdaq’s revenues.
She was responsible for overseeing all of the company’s business segments with a focus on driving efficiency, product development, growth and expansion.
She assumed the role of President and CEO of Nasdaq in 2017 and is a member of the Board of Directors.
RECOGNITIONS
2023 Forbes Power 50
2023 Forbes 50 Over 50 - Investment
2023 Fortune Most Powerful Women
2015 Forbes 40 Most Powerful Women in the World
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Board of Directors, Business Roundtable
Board of Directors, FCLTGlobal
Board of Trust, Vanderbilt University
MEDIA & APPEARANCES
Adena has been featured and profiled in various leading financial media outlets and publications.
She has been featured in Time, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The New York Times, Fortune, Business Insider, the BBC, CNBC, Financial Times, and Fox Business.