Johnson & Johnson Announces Executive Appointments: Alex Gorsky, Vice Chairman, Executive Committee Sheri McCoy, Vice Chairman, Executive Committee

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced that Alex Gorsky, currently Worldwide Chairman, Medical Devices & Diagnostics (MD&D) and Sheri McCoy, currently Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, have been appointed Vice Chairmen of the Executive Committee and join William C. Weldon, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, in an expanded Office of the Chairman.  Both appointments are effective January 3, 2011.  

"Alex and Sheri are proven leaders in driving high performance and developing talent across multiple business segments.  These appointments will ensure we are well-positioned for sustainable growth into the future," said William C. Weldon, Johnson & Johnson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "The changes are an appropriate step in furthering our long-term succession plans, and assuring talented, experienced leaders at all levels of the organization."

Mr. Gorsky, 50, will assume expanded responsibilities that include the Medical Device & Diagnostics Group, Global Supply Chain, Government Affairs & Policy and the Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation.  

In 2009, Mr. Gorsky was appointed Worldwide Chairman, Medical Devices & Diagnostics Group.  In 2008, he joined Ethicon as Company Group Chairman and Worldwide Franchise Chairman and in 2009 became a member of the Executive Committee after being named Worldwide Chairman of MD&D. Until 2004, he was Company Group Chairman for Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical businesses in EMEA. Earlier, he served as President of Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. in the United States after spending 15 years in various sales, marketing and management roles. In 2004, Mr. Gorsky joined the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and was head of the North American pharmaceuticals business.

Ms. McCoy, 52, will assume expanded responsibilities that include the Pharmaceuticals Group, Consumer Group, the Corporate Office of Science & Technology and Corporate Affairs.   Ms. McCoy assumed the role of Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group in 2009.  She became Worldwide Chairman, Surgical Care Group, in 2008 and her responsibilities included the global surgical franchises Ethicon, Ethicon Endo-Surgery and DePuy and medical device and diagnostics businesses in Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific.

Ms. McCoy joined Johnson & Johnson in 1982 as an associate scientist in Research and Development at what was then the Personal Products Company, and held positions of increasing responsibility within the R&D organization. She was named Global President of the Baby and Wound Care franchises in 2002 and held that role until 2005, when she was named Company Group Chairman and Worldwide Franchise Chairman for Ethicon and the Medical Devices & Diagnostics business in Latin America.

Michael Mahoney, currently Company Group Chairman, DePuy, is named Worldwide Chairman, MD&D, and will report to Mr. Gorsky.  Since 2007, he has served as Company Group Chairman of DePuy and also had responsibility for Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.  

Jesse Wu, currently Company Group Chairman, Global Markets Organization, Consumer, is named Worldwide Chairman, Consumer, and will report to Ms. McCoy.  He joined Johnson & Johnson in 1989 and since then has held a number of leadership positions across the Consumer Group.  Mr. Wu was appointed President for greater China in 2000 and in 2003 became International Vice President with increasing responsibilities for the Asia Pacific region.

Joaquin Duato, formerly Pharmaceuticals Company Group Chairman, Americas, is named Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, with responsibility for commercial businesses and operations.  Appointed as Company Group Chairman for North America in March 2009, Mr. Duato assumed additional responsibility for Latin America earlier this year.

Paul Stoffels, M.D., currently Global Head of Pharmaceuticals Research & Development is named Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, with responsibility for research and development, business development and strategic development.   He was named Company Group Chairman in 2006, and has been Global Head of Pharmaceutical Research & Development since May 2009.  Mr. Duato and Dr. Stoffels will both report to Ms. McCoy.

Peter M. Fasolo, Worldwide Vice President, Human Resources, will join the Executive Committee and continue to focus on talent development and succession planning at all levels of the corporation.  Mr. Fasolo joined Johnson & Johnson in 2004 where he worked extensively on the merger and acquisition strategy for the Cordis cardiovascular business.  He has more than 15 years prior experience in consulting and industry, with focus on the healthcare and consumer sectors.

Weldon said, "These leadership changes are designed to ensure that our company remains well-positioned and appropriately structured for sustainable, long-term growth in the health care industry."

About Johnson & Johnson

Caring for the world, one person at a time…inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 114,000 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson