Another marketing executive is leaving Merck

Another top marketing executive has left Merck & Co. Inc., part of a management shake-up under chief executive officer Richard T. Clark's plan to revive the pharmaceutical firm.

Per Wold-Olsen, 58, a 30-year veteran of Merck, "has informed us of his decision to retire" as president of Merck Human Health Intercontinental, the company confirmed yesterday. He will be succeeded by Stefan Oschmann as president of Merck's European and Canadian marketing subdivision.

Last week, Bradley T. Sheares, 49, president of U.S. Human Health, based in Upper Gwynedd, Montgomery County, was replaced by Adam Schechter, current general manager of Merck's joint venture with Schering-Plough Corp. Sheares left to "pursue other opportunities," the company said.

The departures affect two of the top three executives at Merck Human Health, its prescription-drug division and biggest revenue producer. David Anstice, former chief of the division, remains at Merck as president of Human Health Asia-Pacific. He is also a key defense witness at Merck trials over the pain-reliever Vioxx.

The shake-up was expected to continue, perhaps including sales managers and sales representatives, according to Wall Street analysts and others knowledgeable about Merck's plans. It comes two months after Clark installed a new president of Global Human Health, Peter Loescher, over Olsen, Sheares and Anstice as part of a restructuring triggered largely by the Vioxx recall and litigation.

link to full article