People Moves

Johnson & Johnson chief to step down in April

Johnson & Johnson’s long-time chief executive William Weldon is to retire from his post in April, following a string of recalls questioning the quality of the healthcare giant’s products.

Weldon will remain chairman of the company, a role he has also held for nearly 10 years. He spent his entire 41-year career with J&J, starting out as a sales representative at J&J’s McNeil consumer division.

The move comes as J&J struggles to regain its footing after a series of recalls for its healthcare products, including Tylenol and Benadryl, for poor manufacturing and higher-than-expected failed rates, which resulted in the company losing hundreds of millions of dollars and the trust of consumers.

Weldon will be replaced by J&J vice-chairman Alex Gorsky, who takes up the role on April 26, making him the ninth CEO since the company was founded in 1886.

Gorsky started his J&J career in 1988 as sales representative at the Janssen Pharmaceutica unit, working his way up to president of Janssen. He was also group chairman of J&J’s pharmaceuticals business in EMEA and global chairman of the Surgical Care Group.

Jenni Baker, London