Kenneth Frazier
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Merck & Co., Inc.
Kenneth C. Frazier was President and Chief Executive Officer of Merck & Co. from January 2011 until his retirement in 2021, making him the first African American to lead a major pharmaceutical company. He joined Merck in 1992 as general counsel in the public affairs division, later serving as senior general counsel, executive vice president, and president of the company's Global Human Health business before being named CEO. He trained as a lawyer at Harvard Law School and led Merck's defense in the Vioxx litigation before moving into general management.
Notable Achievements
- First African American to lead a major Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company
- Led Merck from 2011 to 2021, a period in which the company's share price more than doubled
- Oversaw development and launch of the cancer immunotherapy Keytruda, which surpassed $14 billion in annual sales by 2020
- Directed Merck's Vioxx litigation strategy, culminating in a $4.85 billion settlement in 2007
- Elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2018
- Named to Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2018 and 2021
Expertise & Topics
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