In Memoriam: Robert (Bob) Johnson, 84
Ran European Sector for CMB In'tl Investment Advisory Div.
Robert (Bob) Edward Johnson, who formerly headed the European Sector of the International Investment Advisory Division of Chase Manhattan Bank, died at the Well-Spring Retirement Community in Greensboro, NC, on April 3, 2025.
Johnson was born in Rockwell City, IA, and attended Osage High School, runniing track and co-captaining the school's basketball team. In addition to being an athlete, he was an avid reader of history and had a keen interest in current events, the economy and markets. He received a BS in economics from Columbia College in New York City, class of 1963.
Johnson's business career started at Chase Manhattan. One of the highlights of his career at Chase came in 1968 when he represented David Rockefeller on a three-month special assignment throughout the Middle East, designed to establish relationships there.
His extensive investment experience also included institutional sales at Smith Barney & Co. and as a Senior Investment Officer at J.& W. Seligman before serving as the Chief Investment Officer for Westinghouse Pension Investment Services. In 2002 he joined Johnson Custom Strategies, Inc., in Greenwich, CT as Chief Market Strategist where, in addition to advising on macro investment strategy, he penned the firm's popular and widely distributed Quarterly Market Summary. He retired to Palm Beach, FL in 2018 before relocating to Greensboro in June, 2022.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Johnson, and his niece, Viktoria Mergler of Spokane, WA. A celebration of remembrance will be held in Osage, Iowa at a future date. Memorials may be directed to the Osage Education Foundation; reference The Robert Johnson Boys' Basketball Fund (P.O. Box 82, Osage, IA 50461).