The Lawyer Is In at Pfizer

In the race to replace Henry A. McKinnell Jr., the embattled CEO of drug giant Pfizer, Jeffrey B. Kindler was the dark horse. Named as McKinnell's successor on July 28, he had no pharmaceutical experience prior to joining Pfizer (PFE) four years ago as general counsel. But for months, the drug industry has been racked with legal, regulatory, and public-relations challenges, with Pfizer right in the thick of it. Against that backdrop, the 51-year-old Kindler—an accomplished lawyer and veteran of McDonalds Corp. (MCD) and General Electric (GE)—brings much to the table.

Kindler's sudden ascent at Pfizer may be the clearest signal yet that pharma boards aim to change how these sprawling, complicated corporate goliaths are managed. For years, directors have enlisted doctors, scientists, and marketing wizards as CEOs. They were expected to focus on the twin tasks of producing new drugs and persuading patients to ask their doctors about them. Kindler will still be responsible for these matters, but he will also have to craft strategies that have little to do with science or sales pitches.