Abbott Laboratories announced that William G. Dempsey has been named senior vice president, pharmaceutical operations, for Abbott's U.S. pharmaceutical business. Guillermo A. Herrera has been named senior vice president, international operations, and replaces Dempsey who held the position since 1999. The appointments are effective immediately.

Both Dempsey and Herrera will report to Jeffrey M. Leiden, president and chief operating officer, Pharmaceutical Products Group, Abbott Laboratories.

Dempsey, 51, joined Abbott in 1982. He most recently served as senior vice president, international operations, and led the highly successful integration of BASF's pharmaceutical business, which included the global operations of Knoll. Dempsey has spent over 20 years at Abbott and has held a number of management positions. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from DePaul University.

Since June 2001, Herrera, 49, has served as vice president, European operations for Abbott's international division. He has more than 20 years of Abbott service and has held various managerial positions in the company's international division including vice president, Latin America and Canada. Herrera earned a bachelor's degree in industrial economics from Universidad del Valle in Colombia, South America, and a master's degree in business administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

"Bill Dempsey and Guillermo Herrera are experienced Abbott leaders with a long-standing history of excellent performance and results," Miles D. White, Abbott's chairman and chief executive officer, said. "We're fortunate to have Bill and Guillermo to lead these businesses as we begin to launch significant products emerging from our pipeline."