Freeport Chairman Richard Adkerson selected to Institutional Investor Hall of Fame

Contributed Photo/Courtesy Freeport-McMoran: Freeport-McMoRan Chairman Richard Adkerson was named to Institutional Investor’s All-America Executive Team CEO Hall of Fame.

Contributed Article/Courtesy Freeport-McMoRan

PHOENIX – Institutional Investor recently selected Richard Adkerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan, 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. Adkerson, along with his fellow inductees, spoke with the publication about lessons learned and greatest challenges as chief executive, 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 ‘watchwords’ for my career.”

The Institutional Investor recognition is Adkerson’s second Hall of Fame induction in the past year. In October, he was inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the global mining industry.

Freeport operates its Safford Operations mine in Graham County and Morenci Operations mine in Greenlee County.