Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. announced that Dr. Ari Kellen has been named to Valeant's Executive Management Team and will assume the role of Executive Vice President/Company Group Chairman, effective January 1, 2014.

Dr. Ari Kellen was a senior partner in McKinsey & Company's Mid-Atlantic Office. Since joining McKinsey in March 1991, Dr. Kellen has led numerous strategy, organization and performance improvement studies for health care companies, including corporate strategies for boards and top management teams, business unit strategies for medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, and health care services clients, and regional and country growth strategies. In addition, Dr. Kellen developed business model innovation and turnaround strategies as well as top-level organization structure, governance, and decision-making redesigns. Dr. Kellwn directed performance turnarounds addressing revenue, cost, capital, and change management. He received a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh) degree and an MBA degree, both with distinction, from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

"The Board of Directors and I are pleased to include Ari as another strong addition to Valeant's senior management team," said J. Michael Pearson, chairman and chief executive officer. "Ari's broad experience in developing comprehensive growth strategies for health care companies will be invaluable to us as we continue to expand our successful growth trends. After having worked with Ari for many years, I know that not only will he fit in well with the rest of the team, but he will be a strong advocate for the long-term shareholder focused culture at Valeant."