Merck & Co hires own lawyer to head global sales and marketing

US-based Merck & Co has selected its top lawyer, Kenneth Frazier, to head up its worldwide sales and marketing organisations, which include global human health from the beginning of August 2007.

Frazier takes over from Peter Loescher, who has left Merck to start his new role as CEO of German technology giant, Siemens.

Frazier will report directly to CEO Richard Clark and be responsible for Merckís 30,000 sales and marketing employees in its globally active drugs and vaccines businesses.

As Merck's executive vice-president of general counsel Frazier has helped Merck to navigate the treacherous waters of the ongoing Vioxx (rofecoxib) litigations.

Frazier joined Merck in 1992 as vice-president of general counsel and secretary of Astra Merck, going on to become vice-president of public affairs, assistant general counsel for corporate staff and vice-president of deputy general counsel and senior vice-president of general counsel.

Frazier becomes the highest ranking African-American executive in the pharmaceutical industry to date.

Bruce Kuhlik, who now becomes senior vice-president, takes over from Frazier as general counsel. He will also report directly to Clark and serve as a member of the executive committee which evaluates and makes strategic decisions for the company.