Retirement of Pfizer executive

New York: Pfizer business development VP William Ringo is to retire.

He will be replaced by Kristin Peck, a senior strategy executive with the company since 2004.

Mr Ringo played a key role in the recent acquisition of Wyeth, he helped create specialist HIV company ViiV Healthcare through a joint venture with GlaxoSmithKline; and he played a leadership role in securing rights to a number of novel, promising compounds.

He joined Pfizer in 2008, after retiring from Eli Lilly, where over his 28-year tenure he held a number of senior positions.