In this role, Ms McCoy succeeds Christine Poon, who announced plans to retire from the company on March 1, 2009.
Ms McCoy joined Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in 1982 as an associate scientist in R&D at what was then the personal products company, and held positions of increasing responsibility within the R&D organization. She was named global president of the baby and wound care franchises in 2002 and held that role until 2005, when she was named company group chairman and worldwide franchise chairman for Ethicon and the medical devices & diagnostics business in Latin America.
The company also announced that Alex Gorsky, currently company group chairman and worldwide franchise chairman of Ethicon, will assume the role of worldwide chairman, surgical care group, effective January 1, 2009, and become a member of the executive committee.
Mr Gorsky, joined Ethicon in early 2008 as company group chairman and worldwide franchise chairman. Until 2004, he was company group chairman for J&J’s pharmaceuticals business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Earlier, he served as president of Janssen Pharmaceutica in the US after spending 15 years in various sales, marketing and management roles. In 2004, Mr Gorsky joined the Novartis Pharmaceuticals and was head of the North American pharmaceuticals business.
William Weldon, chairman and CEO of J&J, said: “Sheri and Alex are proven leaders in driving high performance and developing talent across multiple business segments. These appointments allow for a smooth transition of responsibilities within our senior leadership team.”