Kenneth Frazier

Chair of the Board and CEO of Merck & Co., has been selected as the Bicentennial Founders' Day keynote speaker. Frazier will address the University community during the 200th Founders’ Day Virtual Celebration on February 23, 2021. In recognition of Frazier’s distinguished leadership in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries,...

Kenneth Frazier, one of only a handful of black executives leading major US companies, will step down as chief executive officer at the end of June and be replaced by Chief Financial Officer Robert Davis, Merck said on Thursday. Frazier, 66, will not be handing over the reins completely, at...

Merck’s outspoken chairman and CEO, Ken Frazier, is retiring after almost 30 years at the drugmaker, the company announced Thursday. Frazier, 66, will be succeeded on June 30 by CFO Robert Davis and will continue to serve on Merck’s board as executive chairman “for a transition period to be determined by the board,” the company said. Frazier, one of the few Black corporate leaders in the United States, has been Merck’s chief since January 2011.

First, it was Jeff Bezos announcing he’s stepping down as chief executive officer of Amazon, now it’s Kenneth Frazier—a busy week for CEO exits. Frazier has been with pharmaceutical giant Merck since 1992 when he joined the company as a vice president. In his almost 30 years he rose through the ranks, holding various positions, before becoming CEO of Merck in 2011.

Merck CEO Ken Frazier will retire effective June 30, the company announced. Frazier will be succeeded by CFO Robert Davis. Frazier, one of the few Black corporate chiefs in America, was an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump. Merck's outspoken chairman and CEO, Ken Frazier, is retiring after almost...

KENILWORTH, N.J. — Merck announced that Kenneth Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, will retire as CEO, effective June 30, 2021. Frazier will continue to serve on Merck’s board of directors as executive chairman, for a transition period to be determined by the board. The Merck board of directors has unanimously elected Robert M. Davis, Merck’s current executive vice president, global services and chief financial officer, as chief executive officer, as well as a member of the board, effective July 1, 2021. Mr. Davis will become president of Merck, effective April 1, 2021, at which time the company’s operating divisions—Human Health, Animal Health, Manufacturing, and Merck Research Laboratories—will begin reporting to him.

Merck & Co. Inc. MRK, -0.30% said Thursday that Chief Executive Kenneth Frazier will retire, effective June 30, after 10 years in the role, and 29 years with the company. The drug maker said it elected Chief Financial Officer Robert Davis as the next CEO. Davis joined Merck as CFO in 2014. The leadership change announcement comes as Merck reported a fourth-quarter adjusted profit that missed expectations, but beat revenue forecasts and provided a 2021 outlook that was above projections.

Using data from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, S…