Fidelity names Prudential's Lawson president

BOSTON, July 16 (Reuters) - Fidelity Investments, the world's biggest mutual fund firm, said on Monday it is appointing a Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) executive and former Fidelity employee as president of FMR Corp., the group's holding company.

Fidelity said in a statement that Rodger Lawson will assume the position on Aug. 6 and report to Fidelity Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward Johnson, whose father founded the privately held firm 61 years ago.

Lawson, 60, was appointed after several prominent executives left Fidelity, sparking questions about who would ultimately lead the company. Most recently he was a vice chairman at Prudential responsible for the international insurance and investments division, it said.

Lawson was managing director and chief executive officer of Fidelity's retail operation from May 1985 to May 1991, and during his tenure the firm's retail assets rose almost four-fold to $83 billion and customer accounts grew to 7 million from 3 million, Fidelity said.

The firm said Lawson will be responsible for Fidelity Employer Services Company, its retirement services arm; Fidelity Investments Distribution and Operations Co.; and Fidelity Technology Group.

Johnson will continue to oversee Fidelity Management & Research Company, the group's investment unit; Pyramis Global Advisors, its institutional investment arm; and Devonshire Investors, it said.

Fidelity has $1.5 trillion in assets under management. (Reporting by Muralikumar Anantharaman)