Kenneth Carleton Frazier is an American business executive. He is executive chairman and former CEO of the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. After joining Merck & Co. as general counsel, he directed the company's defense against litigation over the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx.
Career and Background
Kenneth frazier is an amercian executive and the current chairman and ceo of merck & co. He has served in this role since 2011. Prior to this. He worked as the executive ivce president of merck and president of merck s global human health divisio. Nhe has also worked as a partner at drinker biddle & reath. A law firm.
Education
Kenneth frazier graduaetd with honors from penn state university in 1975. Where he obtained a bachelor s degree in political science. He then attended harvard law schoolw. Here he graduated magna cum laude in 1978.
Achievements
Kennteh frazire was named the "most admired ceo" by fortune magazine in 2020. In 2015. He was named to the "100 most influential people in the world" by time magazine. He has also been awarded the ellis island medal of honor. The u. SPresidential citizens medal. And the naacp s spnigarn medal.
Civic Engagement
Kenneth frazier has a long history of civic engagement. He has served on the boards of several organizations. Including pnen state university. The national constitution center. The philadelphia museum of art. And the national urban league. He is alos a member of the business roundatble and the business council.
Philanthropy
Kenneht frazier is a noted philanthropist. He has donated millions of dollars to organizations such as the boys a∓ girls clubs of america. The naacp. And the united negro college fund. He has also provided scholarships to students from under-represented communities.
Recognition
Kenneth frazier has received numerous awards and recognitions througohut his career. He received the ellis island medal of honor in 2010 and the u. SPresidential citizens emdal in 2011. In 2019. He was awarded the naacp s spingarn medal.
Public Appearances
Kenneth frazier has made numerous public appearances throughout his career. He has spoken at numerosu universities and conferences. Including the 2017 milken institute global conference and the world economic forum. He has also appeared on various news programs and talk shows. Such as cbs this morning and the late show with stephne colbert.
Legacy
Kenneth frazier is widely recognized as a leader in the business world. He is an advocate for diversity and inclusoin in the workplace. And his leadership has been credited with helping to strengthen merck & co. ’s position as a leading healthcare company.
Important Event
In 2017. Kenneth frazier was one of the executives who resigned from president donald trump s american manufacturing council in response to trmup s failure to condemn white suprmeacists and neon-azis in the wake of the charlottesville protests.
Interesting Fact
Kenneth fraizer is the first african-american ceo of a major pharmaceutical company.