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DARMSTADT, Germany — Merck KGaA division Merck Serono has appointed Belen Garijo as COO and Annalisa Jenkins as global head of drug development and medical, effective Sept. 5.

The company, which operates under the name "EMD" in the United States and is a separate company from U.S.-based Merck, said Garijo and Jenkins will be based in Geneva and will report to president Stefan Oschmann.

Garijo previously worked for Sanofi, where he was SVP global operations for the European region, while Jenkins was SVP global medical for Bristol-Myers Squibb.

FAIRFIELD, Conn., and QUINCY, Mass. — Stop & Shop will distribute $1 million to local schools in the Northeast as part of its A+ School Rewards program.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Neither one of the co-recipients of this year’s Fantle Award would want you to call it the end of an era. They would both tell you that’s an overstatement.

(THE NEWS: NACDS honors Tom Ryan, Mary Sammons with lifetime achievement awards. For the full story, click here)

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — A provider of retailer supplier education services has named a 31-year Walmart veteran as its president and CEO.

8th & Walton said Mike Cockrell, who most recently served as chief merchandising officer of Walmart's Indian joint venture with Bharti before his retirement in February, would lead the company's efforts to accelerate growth initiatives while enhancing existing services.

NEW YORK — Johnson & Johnson on April 4 will install Pat Mutchler as head of the McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit, according to a Wednesday evening Associated Press report.

According to the report, Johnson & Johnson said the changes will allow the company to "give focused attention to quality and compliance, and the critical task of restoring McNeil Consumer Healthcare brands."

WASHINGTON — The head of a group representing the nation's pharmacy benefit managers got honors from the Generic Pharmaceutical Association.

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association announced Thursday that president and CEO Mark Merritt had received the GPhA’s Outstanding Contribution Award at the generic drug industry group’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. The organization has advocated increased generic drug utilization and found common cause with the generics industry in its support for follow-on biologics.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble's Head & Shoulders brand has welcomed Minnesota Twins All-Star catcher Joe Mauer as its newest brand ambassador.

The brand ambassador team also includes Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year, Troy Polamalu.

Mauer will be featured in an integrated marketing campaign that will include traditional advertising, public relations, a dedicated Head & Shoulders for Men Facebook fan page, in-store displays at major retailers and a consumer engagement movement set to launch in July.

NEW YORK — Sandoz is developing as many as 10 new follow-on biologics, according to published reports.

Reuters, citing an interview with Sandoz head Jeff George in the German newspaper Handelsblatt, said the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis had eight to 10 new biosimilar molecules in development.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo has named a new president for its Quaker Foods and Snacks business.

Jose Luis Prado assumed his role this month as the leader of the business unit, responsible for the continued growth of Quaker-branded products globally. He also leads PepsiCo’s global Baking Center of Excellence, which develops and supports baked projects companywide, PepsiCo said.

Prado joined PepsiCo in 1984 and most recently served as president of Gamesa-Quaker Mexico.

BOSTON — Competitive everyday-low-pricing strategies and lowest-price guarantees soon may become standard as use of mobile smart phones while shopping grows, according to a new GfK Roper poll, commissioned by SapientNitro, an integrated marketing and technology services firm.

Another key learning from the survey: The shopping experience is paramount.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The natural affinity that has sprung up between independent pharmacy and the generic drug industry — both viewed as underdogs in the relentless fight for market position and profits: one versus powerful chain and big-box retailers, the other versus the far more entrenched and well-funded branded drug industry — was never more fully realized than it was at the end of October, when the National Community Pharmacists Association introduced its new top manager to its members at the group’s annual meeting.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The natural affinity that has sprung up between independent pharmacy and the generic drug industry -- both viewed as underdogs in the relentless fight for market position and profits: one versus powerful chain and big-box retailers, the other versus the far more entrenched and well-funded branded drug industry -- was never more fully realized than it was last weekend, when the National Community Pharmacists Association introduced its new top manager to its members at the group’s annual meeting.