Dr. Jose V. “Zito” Sartarelli, a successful pharmaceutical executive at three Fortune 500 companies, has officially assumed his new position as the Milan Puskar Dean of the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University.

“Dr. Sartarelli has been a successful business executive, especially in the international arena, while staying connected to the world of academe,” said WVU President James P. Clements. “His experiences will bring valuable leadership to WVU’s role in preparing students for the global economy and international nature of business and entrepreneurship. I like his energy and look forward to working with him.”

A native of Brazil, Dr. Sartarelli to WVU from Johnson & Johnson, where he has served as pharmaceutical group chairman for Asia-Pacific, Japan and Latin America, overseeing a business of more than $3 billion in annual sales spread over more than 50 countries, supported by more than 9,000 employees.

“The deep and highly successful business background Dr. Sartarelli brings to West Virginia University will prove invaluable in his leadership of the College of Business and Economics,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michele Wheatly. “He has outstanding achievement in the national and international business arenas, but also has an acute understanding of the academic support structure required to succeed in today’s business world.”

Previously he served at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. as president of two international groups and senior vice president of franchise management, business analysis and planning.

Dr. Sartarelli also held senior positions of increasing responsibilities in marketing and management at Eli Lilly and Co. in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. During his tenure with Lilly, he ran Asia-Pacific operations, directed international market planning activities and ran operations in Brazil and Chile.

“We are entering a time of great change, great excitement and great energy at the WVU College of Business and Economics,” said Dr. Sartarelli. “It is our goal to lift the College and its students to new levels of academic standards, growth and success.”

He added, “As with the positions I held prior to becoming dean of the College of Business and Economics, this job requires discipline. It will take a steadfast approach to lift all of us to a higher standard. Taking the College to the next level is a goal that has been set not only by the University administration and the entire College community, but it is also a personal goal.”

Dr. Sartarelli was a member of the Council for the Americas through March of this year. Additionally, he has held numerous leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry in several countries. He has served as chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America International Steering Committee and other significant committee chairmanships such as those for Japan, Canada, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

Dr. Sartarelli received his bachelor of business administration in marketing from the S�o Paulo School of Business Administration (Funda��o Getulio Vargas), S�o Paulo, Brazil. He earned his MBA in marketing under a Fulbright Scholarship, and his doctorate in business administration from Michigan State University.

The WVU College of Business and Economics has 75 full time faculty, 1,066 undergraduate students and 323 graduate students. WVU has eight colleges on its main campus in Morgantown with an enrollment of 28,898.

-WVU-

pg/8/16/2010

Check http://wvutoday.wvu.edu daily for the latest news from the University
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.

CONTACT: Patrick Gregg
(304) 293-5131
patrick.gregg@mail.wvu.edu