People In Brief

Jakobsen next in line as Mead Johnson CEO; Blake takes over Bayer U.S. from Babe; Himmel ends brief tenure as ChromaDex CEO; Capitol Hill veteran O’Donnell joins NACDS; Merz makes Hartman derma VP; USANA strengthens scientist roster; more People In Brief.

Jakobsen next in line as Mead Johnson CEO

Steve Golsby announces June 15 he will retire as president and CEO of Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. in 2013, to be succeeded by Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer Kasper Jakobsen, the board of directors’ unanimous choice. Golsby has led the pediatric nutritionals maker for more than eight years, including through its 2009 spin-off from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and initial public offering. Jakobsen, a 14-year Mead Johnson veteran, was promoted to his current position in December after serving as president of the Americas (Also see "In Brief" - Pink Sheet, 12 Dec, 2011.).

Blake takes over Bayer U.S. from Babe

Bayer AG promotes Philip Blake to senior Bayer representative USA, replacing the retiring Greg Babe on July 1. Blake, who has been with the German firm for over 30 years, also will remain in his current role as U.S. region head of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, based in Whippany, N.J. The graduate of Oxford University Business School previously headed Bayer Inc. and Bayer HealthCare in Canada.

Himmel ends brief tenure at ChromaDex

Jeffrey Himmel resigns as president, CEO and board member of ChromaDex Corp., to return to consumer health product investment firm the Himmel Group, where he is chairman. Himmel was hired in January to replace ChromaDex founder Frank Jaksch and help drive sales and marketing of the firm’s BluScience supplement line (Also see "ChromaDex Looks To Pharma Model For Commercializing Supplement Research" - Pink Sheet, 12 Mar, 2012.). Debra Heim, who had followed Himmel to ChromaDex from the Himmel Group, also stepped down as chief operating officer and president of the consumer products division. The Irvine, Calif., company said June 12 Jaksch has now transitioned from chief scientific officer back to president and CEO. The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based Himmel Group, which helped build up Gold Bond medicated powder in the 1990s, is seeking OTC brands to work with or acquire, Himmel said.

Hill veteran O’Donnell joins NACDS

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores names Thomas O’Donnell VP of federal government affairs, reporting to Senior VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy Carol Kelly. O’Donnell, who begins with the association July 9, will help direct strategy for and management of NACDS’ federal legislative advocacy program on Capitol Hill and at the grassroots level. The trade group said June 7 O’Donnell currently is chief of staff to Rep. Steve Rothman, D-N.J., and previously held the same position in the offices of Reps. Phil Hare, D-Ill., and Rush Holt, D-N.J.

Merz makes Hartman derma VP

Merz Pharmaceuticals LLC names James Hartman VP of medical dermatology in the U.S., with responsibility for dermatologicals including OTC topical scar reducer Mederma. Hartman joins Merz from Obagi Medical Products Inc., maker of physician-dispensed skin care systems, where he was VP of global marketing and business development. Previously, he was senior VP of U.S. commercial operations and VP of U.S. marketing for StiefelLaboratories Inc., where he worked with Bill Humphries, currently CEO of the Merz Inc. U.S. subsidiary. Hartman began at Merz June 12.

USANA strengthens scientist roster

USANA Health Sciences Inc. promotes May 22 John Cuomo to executive director of global research and development and Brian Dixon to executive director of new product and technological innovation. Cuomo, an expert in synthetic organic chemistry and analytical methods, will help build an R&D laboratory in Singapore and aid USANA’s expansion into China. Dixon, who has conducted research on the biochemical mechanisms of aging, will take on additional responsibilities in product development, clinical research and technology innovation.

LifeVantage adds to management ranks

Protandim anti-aging supplement maker LifeVantage Corp. expands its management team, including appointing Robert Urban as chief operating officer and shifting former COO Kirby Zenger to chief network officer, where he works closely with the firm’s independent distributors. The Salt Lake City firm also said June 1 it named Rob Cutler general counsel and Brandon Butterfield marketing and communications VP. LifeVantage CEO Douglas Robinson said the expanded management roster will aid distributor growth, geographic expansion and product launches.

Ex-FDAer Johnson makes consulting jump

Steven A. Johnson, formerly of FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel, joins food and drug consultancy FDAImports.com as a principal and of counsel to its affiliated law firm Benjamin L. England & Associates. FDAImports.com said June 11 Johnson spent time prosecuting enforcement cases in FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations and, after leaving the agency, worked as VP and assistant general counsel –regulatory at Allergan Inc. Out of the firms’ new Irvine, Calif., office, he will advise clients on areas including clinical trials, advertising regulation compliance and good manufacturing practices.

[Editor’s Note: “The Tan Sheet” regularly chronicles employment changes, professional awards and other news about people in the OTC drug and nutritional product industries. Submit announcements to [email protected].]