The former Merck exec, who left last summer after ceo Dick Clark hired a new No. 2 from GE Healthcare, has just been appointed as ceo of Reliant Pharmaceuticals, a small specialty company.

Is anyone surprised? After all, Sheares had run Merck’s U.S. Human Health division, which is the big marketing apparatus; he was in the running to succeed Gilmartin, and was arguably the most visible African-American in the pharmaceutical industry. Sure, he was around when Vioxx was being sold, but he hasn’t been lambasted in court. The lawyers saved that for Ed Scolnick.

Reliant is private, but has undergone continual changes in recent years. Let’s see how long it takes for Sheares to sell the company or take it public. Any takers on what happens next?

[tags]Brad Sheares, Merck, Reliant[/tags]