Merck Vaccines president Gerberding leaving post for EVP role

Outgoing Merck Vaccines president Julie Gerberding

Julie Gerberding, president of Merck's ($MRK) vaccines unit, will be moving on come mid-December for a new role as executive vice president for strategic communications, global public policy and population health, the company announced Wednesday. Since taking up the reins as president in early 2010, Gerberding 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," company CEO Ken Frazier said in a statement. During her tenure as president, she also saw Merck become the top seller in the world vaccine market. Jacques Cholat, currently Merck's VP of global vaccines marketing and commercial operations, will fill Gerberding's spot on an interim basis. Release | More