MARION MERRELL DOW TAPS LADELL AS NORTH AMERICA PRESIDENT

MARION MERRELL DOW TAPS LADELL AS NORTH AMERICA PRESIDENT under a global operations restructuring arrangement announced June 15. "The new North American unit, encompassing Marion Merrell Dow's business in the United States and Canada, will simplify our management structure and will enable us to take advantage of potential synergies between the two countries," the company said. Peter Ladell in effect replaces David Roche, who has headed MMD's Prescription Products Division, the company's U.S. sales and marketing arm since 1989. Roche has left the company. Ladell had been president of Marion Merrell Dow International since last July, following a stint as president of Marion Merrell Dow Europe. He joined Merrell Labs as a sales representative in 1965. The restructuring creates two other new operating units: Marion Merrell Dow Pacific and Marion Merrell Dow Europe. MMD previously had been divided into a U.S. unit and an international unit (which included the European division). Michael Aylott, PhD, takes over as president of the newly formed Pacific unit, based in Tokyo; he will also remain president of Marion Merrell Dow K.K. in Japan. Aylott joined Dow Chemical in 1974 and has been in management positions at Merrell Dow's pharmaceutical affiliates since 1982. The European unit, which is based in Thalwil, Switzerland, will continue to be headed by Francesco Parenti, PhD. Parenti joined MMD's Milan operations in 1972 and has held a variety of management positions. He was named president of Marion Merrell Dow Europe last July, succeeding Ladell. All three unit presidents report to Chief Operating Officer David Sharrock. The restructuring comes as MMD and other pharmaceutical companies look to "reengineer" themselves. The process includes downsizing, trimming marketing budgets and devoting increasing revenues to R&D. MMD President John Lyons recently discussed the company's plans to adapt to the changing priorities of the health care industry ("The Pink Sheet" April 19, p. 3). Last month, Lyons announced a reduction in U.S. staffing and expenses in response to what he called "some very tough business conditions, particularly in the United States" ("The Pink Sheet" May 10, T&G-7).