Merck-Medco
Executive Summary
Michael Atieh to Exec VP Merck-Medco U.S. Managed Care Division, from Merck VP-public affairs. Atieh, 40, is assuming the second spot in the management hierarchy of the combined sales operation formed from the Merck-Medco merger last year. Senior Medco exec Per Lofberg was put in charge of the managed care division when it was formed at the beginning of this year. The appointment of Atieh, who was Merck's liaison to the investment community in the mid-1980's, may help reassure the financial community about the changes in the profit formulas at Merck. Traditional pharmaceutical industry analysts have been reluctant about accepting the prospects for the company. Comments about low margins by Medco execs at a major meeting with the financial community earlier this year did not sweeten the relationship