Fidelity has appointed Rodger Lawson as president of FMR Corp., the holding company for Fidelity's businesses, according to a news release.

Lawson, most recently vice chairman at Prudential Financial, is no stranger to Fidelity, having led Fidelity's retail operation in the late 1980s.

In his new job, Lawson will oversee Fidelity Employer Services Company, Fidelity Investments Distribution and Operations Company and Fidelity Technology Group.

Abigail Johnson, daughter of Fidelity chairman and CEO Edward Johnson III and will continue in her position as head of Fidelity Employer Services and will report to Lawson, Fidelity spokesperon Anne Crowley told The MFWire.

Lawson, 60, will assume the role of president on August 6 and will report to Edward Johnson.

Rodger Lawson Fidelity Investments President FMR Corp.

“Rodger has the breadth of financial services experience, as well as experience with Fidelity, which makes him ideally suited for this job,” Johnson said in the release.

Johnson, for his part, will continue to oversee Fidelity Management & Research Company, Pyramis Global Advisors and Devonshire Investors, and the company's administrative function.

The last time FMR had a president was in 2000, with James Curvey serving in that role, Crowley told The MFWire.

Lawson's appointment comes three months on the heels of a high-profile departure at Fidelity. In April, Bob Reynolds, Fidelity's vice chairman and chief operating officer, surprised many when he announced his retirement from the company (see "What about Bob?" April 19, 2007).

Reynolds, 55, had been widely viewed as a possible successor to Johnson as Fidelity's CEO.  

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