.png)
.webp)
© History Oasis / Created via Midjourney
1949-1975
Henry Taub founded Automatic Payrolls in Paterson, New Jersey, by borrowing $2,000.
Taub took a modest manual bookkeeping operation and became a technological pioneer, rebranding it as Automatic Data Processing in 1957.
His leadership propelled ADP through its 1961 public offering with just 300 clients and $400,000 in revenue.
By 1965, ADP expanded into the UK.
Finally, Taub saw ADP go public on the NYSE in 1970, becoming one of the world’s largest payroll services.
1975-1982
Frank Lautenberg joined ADP as a salesman before climbing the corporate ladder to CEO.
Lautenberg led ADP’s transition from mechanical bookkeeping machines to IBM computers.
Under his leadership, ADP developed its tax filing service in 1982.
Lautenberg’s tenure ended when he resigned to pursue political ambitions, winning election to the United States Senate, where he served until he died in 2013.
1982-1996
Largely credited with ADP’s explosive growth, Josh Weston had an unmatched record of 164 consecutive quarters of double-digit revenue and earnings per share growth.
Weston diversified beyond payroll into brokerage services, electronic banking, and HR management.
The company also acquired GTE’s Telenet Information Services in 1983, pushing revenues past $1 billion by 1985.
By the mid-1980s, ADP processed paychecks for approximately 20% of the American workforce.
1996-2006
Through strategic diversification, Arthur Weinbach led ADP’s expansion from a $3 billion company to an $8.5 billion enterprise.
Weinbach expanded ADP’s global footprint while maintaining its reputation for reliability.
His acquisition of Kerridge Computer Co. in 2006 strengthened ADP’s dealer management systems.
2006-2011
Accelerating ADP’s international reach, Gary Butler expanded ADP into 40 countries across five continents.
Butler modernized ADP’s tech stack and strategic acquisitions, including the automotive marketing company Cobalt in 2010.
Despite strong financial performance, with first-quarter profit up 9% in 2011, his tenure ended abruptly following a domestic violence arrest in November 2011, though charges were later dismissed in 2012.
2011-2022
Carlos Rodriguez transformed ADP from a traditional payroll processor into a comprehensive human capital management technology leader.
Rodriguez nearly doubled the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) business while leading critical digital transformation initiatives.
Under his leadership, ADP maintained its position on Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list for 14 consecutive years and expanded to serve over 700,000 clients worldwide.
2023-Present
Maria Black is ADP’s first female CEO after 27 years with the company.
Black launched the ADP Assist AI platform in 2024, embracing generative AI technology.
Named to CNBC’s 2025 Changemakers list for transforming business, she continues modernizing ADP’s global operations.
Having started as a sales associate in 1996 and risen through leadership positions, Black brings comprehensive company knowledge to her role as CEO.
.webp)
