US management shake-up at Valeant

Valeant has made several senior changes to its management team in the US following its acquisition of the dermatology company Medicis.

The Canadian pharma firm said Ryan Weldon (pictured), who currently serves as VP and general manager of both the company's aesthetics and neurology divisions, will be promoted to executive VP/company group chair leading US dermatology operations.

Prior to joining Valeant in 2008, he had spent time at McKinsey & Co and Johnson & Johnson.

In addition to Weldon's appointment, Valeant named senior roles for three Medicis employees, all to take effect once the acquisition is closed - something Valeant expects will occur on December 11, 2012.

Jason Hanson, who served as executive VP, chief operating officer of Medicis since July 2010, will be relocated from Medicis' base in Arizona to join Valeant's operations in New Jersey, where he will assume the role of executive VP/company group chairman and lead certain US and international businesses and functions to be named later.

The remaining appointments are Medicis' executive VP, sales and marketing Vince Ippolito to senior VP, general manager of Valeant's aesthetics business, while Medicis senior VP, marketing for both dermatology and aesthetics products Justin Smith will now serve as senior VP, general manager US Rx dermatology.

Both Ippolito  and Smith will report to Weldon in Arizona.

"These individuals have demonstrated exceptional operating performance at their respective companies and business units and I believe they are the right candidates to continue Valeant's growth and success in the future,” said J Michael Pearson, chair and CEO of Valeant.

“We expect to be able to announce more management announcements around the time of closing."