Talk:Kenneth Frazier/Merck Suggested Revision

Suggested Revisions and Additions to Ken Frazier Wikipedia Page, 9/11/13

My name is Nicole, and I am with Merck. On behalf of Merck, I would like to ask the Wikipedia community for their feedback to proposed changes surrounding the Wikipedia page for Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier.

The changes below aim to provide additional details on Frazier's upbringing, education, and business achievements. No content has been deleted from this page. I have included both the current page content and the new, suggested updates below it.

I welcome and appreciate the Wikipedia community’s feedback.

Nicole922 (talk) 17:33, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

Early Life
CURRENT: Frazier, a native of Philadelphia, graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1975 with a BA in Political Science, and attended Harvard Law School.

SUGGESTED REVISIONS: Frazier was born on December 17, 1954, in North Philadelphia, one of the city's poorest neighborhoods. His mother died when he was 12, and his father, a janitor at the United Parcel Service, raised him and his two siblings. Frazier graduated high school early, at the age of 16. His late father suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which Frazier says inspires him to lead Merck in its development of Alzheimer's medicines.

Career
CURRENT: Frazier joined Merck in 1992, and became general counsel of the company in 2006. As general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against Vioxx-related litigation. From 2007 to 2010, he served as executive vice president and president of the company's global human health unit. In 2010, he became Merck's president and on January 1, 2011 its CEO.

SUGGESTED REVISIONS: Frazier graduated from Pennsylvania State University, where he currently serves as a board member, in 1975 with a BA in Political Science, and received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1978. He began his law career at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia. While there, he and two colleagues began working on the case of James Willie “Bo” Cochran, an Alabama man on death row accused of committing a 1976 murder. Frazier and his colleagues represented Cochran on a pro bono basis and won a new trial for Cochran, who was acquitted in 1997 after over 20 years on death row.

Frazier has held a broad range of senior management positions since joining Merck in 1992 as vice president, general counsel and secretary of the Astra Merck Group. He became vice president of public affairs in 1994 and in December 1999 was named senior vice president and general counsel. He was named general counsel of the company in 2006. As general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against Vioxx-related litigation. From 2007 to 2010, he served as executive vice president and president of the company's global human health unit. In May of 2010, he became Merck's president. On January 1, 2011 he became CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors, replacing former Merck CEO Richard Clark. He became chairman of the board on December 1, 2011.

Frazier sits on the boards of Exxon Mobil, Weill Cornell Medical School and Graduate School of Medical Sciences. He is Board treasurer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. He spoke at The American Law Institute’s 90th Annual Meeting in May 2013, on being a lawyer in private, in-house practice and from his current vantage point as CEO of Merck.

Public Life
NEW SECTION REQUESTED: In 2012, Frazier joined several CEOs who met with President Barack Obama to discuss deficit and debt reduction. Frazier said he supported tax revenue increases, including the top 2 percent, but only if accompanied by responsible spending limits. Frazier also discussed the importance of innovation and continued support for biomedical research. On September 18, 2013, President Obama appointed Frazier as a member of the President’s Export Council to represent the views of business on the nation’s export policies and deep commitment to expanding U.S. exports.

In the late 1990s, Frazier was a founding board member of the Cornerstone Christian Academy, an inner-city school K-8 school in Philadelphia, and currently serves on the board of trustees.

Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal
CURRENT: On November 11, 2011, as a member of the Penn State board of trustees, the board selected Frazier as chairman of a commission empaneled to investigate a child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations of a cover up by university officials.

Kenneth Frazier's commission retained the private law firm Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan as "Special Investigative Counsel" who then hired Pepper Hamilton, legal counsel for Merck. The report, costing the university $6.5 million was accepted and used as the basis for the NCAA sanctions against Penn State. Frazier has received vocal criticism from Penn State alumni and others for his role in the Penn State Board of Trustees' handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, particularly its decision to fire legendary football coach Joe Paterno.

Racially-insensitive remarks
CURRENT: On March 14, 2013, at a sub-committee meeting of the Penn State Board of Trustees, Frazier uttered what was considered to be a racially-insensitive remark at a candidate running for the Board of Trustees who criticized the Freeh narrative. Frazier apologized for his remarks several days later.

Awards
NEW SECTION REQUESTED: Frazier has been recognized for his advocacy in providing legal representation to underserved communities and for his personal pro bono work
 * 2012: National Equal Justice Award from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
 * 2009: Equal Justice Champion award for his work to help acquit James Willie “Bo” Cochran
 * 2008: National Legal Aid & Defender Association Exemplar Award for *longtime service on behalf of low-income communities
 * 2004: Excellence in Corporate Practice Award from Association of Corporate Counsel for legal advocacy and counseling
 * 2003: Laurie D. Zelon Award (housed at Georgetown University Law Center) for pro bono work

Personal Life
NEW SECTION REQUESTED: Frazier is married to Andrea with two children, Lauren and James.