Purdue Pharma names president and CEO

STAMFORD, Conn. — Purdue Pharma on Monday named Mark Timney as president and CEO.

"We found a proven leader in Mark Timney," said Raymond Sackler, co-founder and board member of Purdue. "I am confident that his capabilities and experience, coupled with Purdue's culture of excellence, will grow our business and strengthen our healthcare industry leadership." 

Timney brings more than 20 years of pharmaceutical sales and marketing experience to Purdue, including success in designing and executing strategies to achieve market leadership. Prior to joining Purdue, he was president of Merck US, where he managed sales and marketing, managed markets and payers.  

With Timney's guidance, Purdue will continue advancing research and development initiatives and pioneering new commercial models. 

Before coming to the United States, Timney served for seven years as Merck's country manager in Korea and then Japan. Prior to that, he held leadership positions for more than four years at Merck Australia. Before joining Merck, he spent eight years in sales and marketing at a number of multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Zeneca in New Zealand, ICI Pharmaceuticals in Australia and Roussel Labs in the United Kingdom. 

Timney succeeds John Stewart, who has retired from Purdue.