Richard Adkerson’s run as one of the preeminent leaders in the mining industry has garnered hall of fame recognition by a leading international business-to-business publication.
Institutional Investor recently selected Freeport-McMoRan’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for its All-America Executive Team CEO Hall of Fame, which honors chief executives who have been voted top of their sector at least six times in a survey of sell- and buy-side participants.
Adkerson, who has served as CEO since 2003 and Chairman since 2021, has been named to the top spot in the Metals & Mining category nine times. He is joined in this year’s hall of fame class by Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts and GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO Larry Culp.
The three honorees spoke with the publication about lessons learned and greatest challenges as chief executives, key career moments and the best professional advice they have received. In his interview, Adkerson recalled advice he was given when he was promoted to lead accounting firm Arthur Andersen’s global oil practice at the age of 33 and has stuck with him to this day.
“Do the right thing and don’t screw up,” Adkerson recalls being told. “Those have been ‘watch words’ for my career.”
The Institutional Investor recognition is Adkerson’s second hall of fame induction in the past year. In October, Adkerson was inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the global mining industry.