Chutes & Ladders—Merck scouts for CEO replacements after scrapping retirement rule

Welcome to this week's Chutes & Ladders, our roundup of hirings, firings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word—or the bad—from your shop to Conor Hale, and we will feature it here at the end of each week. According to reports, the company is looking for a replacement for CEO Ken Frazier. Less than a year ago, Merck’s board scrapped a company policy that CEOs must retire at the age of 65, a move designed to keep long-term helmsman Frazier on board. But now, the Big Pharma is preparing for his exit and is searching for potential replacements with a preference for an internal candidate, according to Bloomberg. Chief Commercial Officer Frank Clyburn, Chief Financial Officer Robert Davis and Chief Marketing Officer Michael Nally are seen as potential replacements. The drugmaker is also getting ready for the departure of R&D head Roger Perlmutter, according to the report. FiercePharma