Kenneth Frazier
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Carleton Frazier (born December 17, 1954) is the President
and CEO
of Merck & Co.
, and is the first African American
to serve as the CEO of a pharmaceutical company.
Frazier, who joined Merck in 1992, became general counsel
of the company in 2006. As the company's general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against Vioxx
-related litigation
From 2007 to 2010, he served as executive vice president and president of the company's global human health unit. In 2010, he became president of Merck and on January 1, 2011 became its CEO. He was educated at Pennsylvania State University
, graduating in 1975 with a BA in Political Science, and Harvard Law School
. He is a native of Philadelphia.
On November 11, 2011, the Penn State board of trustees named Frazier, a trustee, chairman of a blue ribbon commission empaneled to investigate a child sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant football coach and allegations of a cover up by university officials.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Merck & Co.
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co., Inc. , also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The Merck headquarters is located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, an unincorporated area in Readington Township...
, and is the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to serve as the CEO of a pharmaceutical company.
Frazier, who joined Merck in 1992, became general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
of the company in 2006. As the company's general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against Vioxx
Rofecoxib
Rofecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has now been withdrawn over safety concerns. It was marketed by Merck & Co. to treat osteoarthritis, acute pain conditions, and dysmenorrhoea...
-related litigation
From 2007 to 2010, he served as executive vice president and president of the company's global human health unit. In 2010, he became president of Merck and on January 1, 2011 became its CEO. He was educated at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, graduating in 1975 with a BA in Political Science, and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He is a native of Philadelphia.
On November 11, 2011, the Penn State board of trustees named Frazier, a trustee, chairman of a blue ribbon commission empaneled to investigate a child sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant football coach and allegations of a cover up by university officials.