Pfizer - Hank who?

Just days after AZs' Tom McKillop (that was his name, wasn't it? - ed.) retired from the companys' top job Pfizers' CEO Hank McKinell has started speculation about his pending departure to the Old Folks' Home.

Speaking at a Morgan Stanley pharmaceutical conference in New York this week, McKinnell said there are "three, maybe four, people who could be CEOs of Pfizer or any other pharmaceutical company, so we certainly have the capabilities inside Pfizer..."

He didn't identify candidates by name or indicate who the fourth person might be, beyond the three vice chairmen.

The executives promoted to vice chairman last year are: Karen Katen, David Shedlarz and Jeff Kindler.

McKinnell had been asked at the Morgan Stanley conference why Pfizer created a "horse race" to succeed him, and hadn't named a successor yet.

"We have a process that's fully transparent, fully understood by the board and the candidates for succession, one that is working very well," McKinnell said. But he added, "Yeah, creating some tension, that's probably a fair comment" to make about the process.

Always the master of understatement, eh Hank?!

McKinnell said it was too soon to settle on a successor because Pfizer doesn't yet know what strengths it will need in a CEO in two years. The decision will depend upon "how our products do, it depends on how our marketplace evolves."

Really, Hank! Are you listening Karen, David, Jeff and "anonymous fourth guy"?

Possible names for the fourth guy (or gal) are welcome. No silly ones, like Darth Vader (he's already earmarked for Seronovartis), please! Oh well. if you must.

http://www.wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=4324184

Listen with Hank here:

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/confLobby.zhtml?ticker=PFE&item_id=1187570