Merck Adds Strategic Communications Executive Role

Dr. Julie Gerberding has been appointed executive vice president for strategic communications, global public policy and population health, at Merck. In this newly created executive committee position, Dr. Gerberding will be responsible for Merck’s global public policy, corporate responsibility and communications functions, as well as the Merck Foundation and the Merck for Mothers program. She will also lead new partnership initiatives aimed at accelerating Merck’s contribution to improved population health.
 
Dr. Gerberding joined the company in 2010 and most recently served as president of Merck Vaccines. Prior to joining Merck, she served as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2002-2009, and before that served as director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion.  
 
“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,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “Julie’s leadership of our vaccines business and her exceptional track record in both the public and private sectors make her ideally suited to lead these areas and to advance our engagement with organizations around the world that, like Merck, are working to advance population health.”
 
Jacques Cholat, currently vice president, global vaccines marketing and commercial operations, has been appointed interim president of Merck Vaccines. Mr. Cholat joined Merck from Sanofi Pasteur in November 2011, where he had served as vice president of Sanofi Pasteur international commercial operations since July 2002.