Merck, a global healthcare provider, has appointed Michael Holston as chief ethics and compliance officer, effective June 25. He will succeed Richard Bowles upon his retirement.

Holston will also serve on the company's executive committee.

Previously, Holston served as executive vice president and general counsel for Hewlett Packard, where he oversaw compliance, government affairs, privacy, ethics operations and legal affairs. Prior to that, he was a partner at litigation firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. He also served as a prosecutor in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.