Bayer Healthcare's Mark Trudeau joins Covidien

Bayer's Mark Trudeau is to take over as president of Covidien's pharmaceutical segment as senior vice president.

Trudeau, who serves as president and CEO of Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals US Region, will assume his new role on February 1.

He replaces Matthew Harbaugh, chief financial officer, pharmaceuticals, who has served as interim president since Timothy Wright resigned in November 2010. Harbaugh will continue as chief financial officer.

In his new role, Trudeau will oversee plans to turn Covidien's pharmaceutical division into its own standalone company, announced in December, 2011 and expected to be completed by the middle of 2013.

Covidien, which has headquarters in both Ireland and the US, is currently ranked among the top 10 generic drug manufacturers in the US.

Trudeau has spent over 25 years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including several years at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) before joining Bayer.

His roles at BMS included vice president and general manager of the company's immunology division and regional president, Asia-Pacific.

He has also worked at Eli Lilly & Company and Abbott Laboratories, and serves on the board of directors of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the board of trustees of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey.