Kenneth Frazier
Kenneth Carleton Frazier (born December 17, 1954) is the Chairman, President and CEO of Merck & Co..
Frazier, a native of Philadelphia,[1] graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1975 with a BA in Political Science, and attended Harvard Law School.
Frazier joined Merck in 1992, and became general counsel of the company in 2006.[2] As general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against Vioxx-related litigation.[3] From 2007 to 2010, he served as executive vice president and president of the company's global human health unit.[2] In 2010, he became Merck's president[2] and on January 1, 2011 its CEO.[4]
Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal
On November 11, 2011, as a member of the Penn State board of trustees, the board selected Frazier as chairman of a commission empaneled to investigate a child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations of a cover up by university officials.[5]
Kenneth Frazier's commission retained the private law firm Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan as "Special Investigative Counsel" who then hired Pepper Hamilton, legal counsel for Merck. The report, costing the university $6.5 million was accepted and used as the basis for the NCAA sanctions against Penn State.[6] Frazier has received vocal criticism from Penn State alumni and others for his role in the Penn State Board of Trustees' handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, particularly its decision to fire legendary football coach Joe Paterno. [7]
Racially-insensitive remarks
On March 14, 2013, at a sub-committee meeting of the Penn State Board of Trustees, Frazier uttered what was considered to be a racially-insensitive remark at a candidate running for the Board of Trustees who criticized the Freeh narrative.[8][9][10] Frazier apologized for his remarks several days later.[11]
References
- ^ "New Merck CEO Kenneth C. Frazier has Philadelphia roots," Philadelphia Inquirer, December 1, 2010
- ^ a b c "Biographical Info on Merck CEO-Elect Frazier," ABC News, November 30, 2010 [dead link]
- ^ "Another Lawyer Done Good: Merck Names Frazier CEO," Wall Street Journal / Law Blog, November 30, 2010
- ^ "Merck's CEO to get $1.5 million yearly, incentives," BusinessWeek, December 1, 2010
- ^ "Committee promises thorough investigation of sex abuse at PSU" The Citizens' Voice, November 11, 2011
- ^ http://ps4rs.org/docs/PS4RS%20Review%20of%20Freeh%20Report.pdf
- ^ http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/03/penn_state_trustee_ken_frazier.html#incart_m-rpt-2
- ^ "Ken Frazier Goes off on BOT Candidate" Onward State, March 15, 2013
- ^ "Our View | Penn State trustee Frazier did more harm than good with outburst" Centre Daily Times, March 16, 2013
- ^ "Ken Frazier-Bill Cluck exchange, Penn State Board of Trustees committee, March 14, 2013" YouTube, March 14, 2013
- ^ "Letter to the editor | Penn State trustee Frazier issues apology for comment" Centre Daily Times, March 18, 2013