NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) -- Johnson & Johnson is promoting the head of its surgical care group to head its worldwide pharmaceuticals group, the maker of prescription drugs, medical devices and health products said Thursday.
Sheri McCoy, 49, will move up to the new role on Jan. 1, 2009, succeeding Christine Poon, who also is vice chairman of J&J's board of directors. Poon, 56, last month announced plans to retire on March 1 after more than two decades in the industry, the last eight at Johnson & Johnson.
McCoy, a member of the company's executive committee, joined J&J in 1982 as a scientist in research and development of personal products.
Alex Gorsky, now the head of Ethicon Inc., which makes surgical and wound management products, will move up to McCoy's job as worldwide chairman of the surgical care group, which includes the Ethicon, Ethicon Endo-Surgery and DePuy businesses. He also will join the executive committee.