Johnson & Johnson Announces Executive Appointments: Sheri McCoy, Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group, and Alex Gorsky, Worldwide Chairman, Surgical Care Group NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Oct 09, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Johnson & Johnson today announced that Sheri McCoy, currently Worldwide Chairman, Surgical Care Group, has been appointed Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group, effective January 1, 2009. In this role, Ms. McCoy succeeds Christine Poon, who last month announced plans to retire from the Company on March 1, 2009. Alex Gorsky, currently Company Group Chairman and Worldwide Franchise Chairman, Ethicon, Inc., will assume the role of Worldwide Chairman, Surgical Care Group, effective January 1, 2009, and become a member of the Executive Committee. "Sheri and Alex are proven leaders in driving high performance and developing talent across multiple business segments," said Johnson & Johnson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William C. Weldon. "These appointments allow for a smooth transition of responsibilities within our senior leadership team." In being appointed earlier this year to the newly created position of Worldwide Chairman, Surgical Care Group, Ms. McCoy's responsibilities included the surgical franchises Ethicon, Ethicon Endo-Surgery and DePuy, as well as medical devices and diagnostics organizations in the Latin America, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia Pacific regions. She also became a member of the Executive Committee. Ms. McCoy, 49, 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. "Sheri's strong research background and breadth of experience have prepared her well to assume the leadership of our Pharmaceuticals Group," Weldon said. Mr. Gorsky, 48, joined Ethicon early this year as Company Group Chairman and Worldwide Franchise Chairman. Until 2004, he was Company Group Chairman for Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceuticals business 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. Weldon said, "Throughout a long career at Johnson & Johnson, Alex has demonstrated success in both the pharmaceutical and surgical care aspects of our business." 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 120,200 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 http://www.jnj.com Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved News Provided by COMTEX.