Reliant Pharmaceuticals has named former Merck US human health president Bradley Sheares, as its CEO. Sheares, who will also become a member of Reliant’s board of directors succeeds Ernest Mario, who was CEO since 2003. Mario will continue to serve on the board as chairman. While at Merck, Sheares had commercial responsibility for the company’s portfolio of prescription medicines for the treatment of chronic and acute diseases in the US. During his tenure as president, Sheares was a member of Merck’s management committee, which was responsible for formulating global business strategies, operations management and the development and implementation of corporate policies. Sheares served as VP hospital marketing and sales for US human health prior to his promotion to president, US human health in 2001. He joined Merck in 1987 as a research fellow in the Merck Research Laboratories and moved to the US commercial organization in 1990.Reliant is a privately held company based in Liberty Corner, NJ. Reliant’s portfolio consists of primarily cardiovascular-focused products, with a sales and marketing infrastructure comprised of 825 sales representatives nationwide.