Merck Sharp and Dohme creates new executive committee position

Merck Sharp and Dohme has announced the appointment of Dr Julie Gerberding to the newly-created post of executive vice-president for strategic communications, global public policy and population health.

Dr Gerberding will take up her new position on the executive committee on December 15th 2014, leading initiatives such as the Merck Foundation and the Merck for Mothers programme.

She will also lead new partnership initiatives to accelerate the firm's ability to contribute to improved population health – a measure of impact that is increasingly valued by governments and other global health organisations.

Dr Gerberding joined the company as president of Merck Vaccines in January 2010 and has played a key role in the division's growth, helping it to become the global leader in the vaccines market based in sales terms.

Kenneth Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer of Merck Sharp and Dohme, said: "Julie has been instrumental in making Merck's vaccines more accessible and affordable, particularly in emerging markets and many of the world's most resource-limited countries."

Earlier this week, the company agreed a $9.5 billion (6.06 billion pounds) deal to acquire Cubist Pharmaceuticals, a specialist developer of novel antibiotics.