Merck Names Michael J. Holston as Future General Counsel; Will Succeed Bruce N. Kuhlik in July 2015
June 23 2014 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and
Canada, today announced the future appointment of Michael J.
Holston as general counsel, effective July 01, 2015. Holston, who
will also oversee responsibility for Merck’s communications, policy
and security organizations beginning July 1 of this year, will
succeed Bruce N. Kuhlik upon his retirement after ten years with
the company. Holston will remain in his role as chief ethics and
compliance officer during the transition period. These changes
reflect a multi-year executive succession planning process.
"As our chief compliance officer for the past two years, Mike
has advanced the function and quickly become a valued member of our
executive team. I look forward to continuing to benefit from his
insightful advice, deep experience and active engagement on
strategic and operational issues in the key role of Merck’s general
counsel,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive
officer, Merck.
Holston joined Merck in 2012 as the company’s chief ethics and
compliance officer. He was previously general counsel for
Hewlett-Packard, where his responsibilities included legal,
communications, government affairs and corporate responsibility, in
addition to compliance, ethics and privacy matters. Prior to that,
Holston was a partner in the law firm of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius,
where he served as external counsel to Merck on a wide range of
important matters, including product litigation, government
investigations and compliance with healthcare laws and regulations.
Earlier in his career, Holston was a prosecutor in the criminal
division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia and a
partner in the law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath, where he had
a national litigation practice.
Kuhlik joined Merck in 2005 as associate general counsel and
played a major role in guiding the company’s VIOXX litigation as
well as providing legal support to the U.S. Human Health Division.
In 2007, he was appointed general counsel and assumed additional
oversight of the communications and public policy functions,
including the Merck Foundation. Before joining Merck, Kuhlik was
general counsel of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
America and a partner in the law firm of Covington and Burling,
where he chaired the firm’s food and drug and healthcare practice
groups. He also served as Assistant to the Solicitor General in the
U.S. Department of Justice.
"Bruce’s exemplary leadership has enabled Merck to successfully
address a broad range of litigation, corporate, intellectual
property and regulatory matters,” said Frazier. “I would like to
thank Bruce for his many significant contributions to the company,
including his notable efforts in promoting access to justice for
the underserved through Merck’s legal pro bono program.”
About Merck
Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the
world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside of the United States
and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic
therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work
with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver
innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to
increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies,
programs and partnerships. For more information, visit
www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and
YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck’s
management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties.
If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or
uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially
from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general
industry conditions and competition; general economic factors,
including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations;
the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care
legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends
toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new
products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent
in new product development, including obtaining regulatory
approval; Merck’s ability to accurately predict future market
conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial
instability of international economies and sovereign risk;
dependence on the effectiveness of Merck patents and other
protections for innovative products; and the exposure to
litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory
actions.
Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause
results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements can be found in Merck’s 2013 Annual
Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s
Internet site (www.sec.gov).
Media:Pam Eisele, 267-305-3558orLainie Keller,
908-423-4187orInvestors:Carol Ferguson, 908-423-4465
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