Merck and Sanofi name CEO of animal medicine unit

NEW YORK (AP) - Merck and Sanofi-Aventis SA say Raul Kohan will be CEO of their animal health joint venture, which is expected to be the world's largest maker of pet and livestock medicines.

Kohan is the president of Merck's animal health business, Intervet/Schering-Plough. The companies said Tuesday he will take his new position after regulators clear the joint venture, which could happen in the first quarter of 2011. Kohan joined Schering-Plough in 1984 and stayed with the company after Merck and Co. bought it last year.

The companies said the combined business will be called Merial-Intervet.

Merial Chairman Jose Barella will keep his job until the transaction closes. He joined Merial in 2001 and became chairman in 2007.