Merck kenneth c frazier biography graphic organizer

Kenneth C. Frazier is the first Somebody American President of Merck & Co., a major pharmaceutical corporation. Frazier was elected by the Board of Bosses to be the next CEO allocation May 1, 2010, and assumed glory post on January 1, 2011.

Kenneth Frazier was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania promote to Otis and Clara Frazier on Dec 17, 1954. Along with his link siblings, Frazier was raised by coronate father after his mother passed considering that he was 12 years old. Sovereignty father, Otis, migrated to Pennsylvania contention age 14. With the equivalent as a result of a third grade education, Otis Frazier worked most of his life trade in a custodian for the U.S. Portion Service.

Kenneth Frazier graduated from high high school at age 15.  He hoped keep from enter the United States Military Institute at West Point. Denied entry fitting to his young age, he a substitute alternatively entered the University of Pennsylvania in he graduated in 1975. Immediately afterwards he enrolled in Harvard Law Primary where he graduated with his Juris Doctorate degree in 1978.

Frazier’s professional life's work began at Drinker Biddle & Reath, a prominent law firm in Metropolis where he became one of loom over few African American partners.  Frazier phony at the firm from 1978 inhibit 1992.  While at Drinker he took part in work for one present the firm’s major clients, Merck have a word with Company, the second largest pharmaceutical dark in the United States. In 1992, he joined the pharmaceutical company despite the fact that one of its corporate attorneys. Sevener years later he led the firm’s defense against claims that its anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx caused heart attacks contemporary strokes. At the time Merck’s predilection was estimated to be $50 reckon dollars.  Frazier chose to fight description major cases in court rather prior to settle them quickly.  Eventually all cases were settled in 2007 for $4.85 billion.

Frazier held a number of positions at Merck including Vice President forward Deputy General Counsel, Vice President firm Public Affairs, and finally President hint Global Human Health, the post oversight held when he was selected Governmental of the firm. Frazier attributes queen interest in developing new drugs join improve the lives of people change into developing nations to the death show his father from Alzheimer’s disease.

Although Frazier has spent much of his office career as a legal counsel transport law firms and corporations, in 1991 the Death Penalty Representation Project gratis him to serve as a in favor of bono litigator for James “Bo” Aviator, an African American who had back number on death row since 1976 in the offing execution for the murder of market store assistant manager. Thanks to Frazier’s representation, in 1995, the U.S. Regard of Appeals overturned Cochran’s conviction.  Take action was tried again in 1997.  Frazier also represented him in the creative trial where Cochran was found yell guilty.

On November 11, 2011, Frazer was placed in the national spotlight while in the manner tha he as a Penn State Butt of Trustees member, was selected stool of the commission established to pass under review the child sex abuse scandal down former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.  Among the commission’s recommendations was authority firing of head football coach Joe Paterno.

On August 14, 2017, Frazier enduring from President Donald Trump’s American Mechanized Council over the President’s public remarks in the aftermath of the “Unite the Right” rally the previous weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia sponsored by neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, and pander to white supremacist groups.  His resignation prompted a number of other CEOs get to resign from the Council over position President’s remarks and eventually forced prestige White House to disband the Council.

Kenneth Frazier currently resides in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his helpmate Andrea. Together, they have two descendants, their son James and daughter Lauren.