Willie A. Deese

Retired Executive Vice President, Merck & Co. Inc. and President,
Merck Manufacturing Division
Director since 2016

Experience: 

Executive Vice President of Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, which develops, manufactures and distributes pharmaceuticals, from January 2008 until June 2016; President of Merck Manufacturing Division from 2005 until 2008; Senior Vice President of Global Procurement at Merck from 2004 until 2005

Senior Vice President, Global Procurement and Logistics at GlaxoSmithKline, a pharmaceutical company

Named one of the “Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise Magazine.

Director of Dentsply Sirona USA

Former Director of CDK Global, Inc.; G1 Therapeutics, Inc.; Former Chair of North Carolina A&T State University Board of Trustees

Education:

North Carolina A&T State University
B.A., Business Administration

Western New England College
M.B.A.

Skills and Qualifications:

Accounting/Finance, Construction/Engineering/Manufacturing, Corporate Governance, Government/Policy/Regulatory, Human Capital Management, Industrial Operations, Risk Management, Technology/Cybersecurity – Mr. Deese has significant regulatory, manufacturing and procurement experience from his service as Executive Vice President of Merck & Co., Senior Vice President of Merck Manufacturing Division and Senior Vice President of Global Procurement and Logistics at GlaxoSmithKline.

The Board views Mr. Deese’s background as a leader in a highly regulated industry to be of significant value in light of the many regulatory requirements our Company faces. His experience with manufacturing and technology are valuable to oversight of our operations.