Purdue Pharma promotes Barton to general counsel

Maria Barton, a vice president at the company, will also become a member of the executive committee.
Maria Barton, a vice president at the company, will also become a member of the executive committee. | File photo

Purdue Pharma L.P.'s Maria Barton has been promoted from deputy general counsel to general counsel.

“Maria’s exemplary performance and personal qualities have distinguished her as a company-wide leader. She has helped ensure that we operate in full legal compliance while running our business effectively,” Purdue Pharma President and CEO Mark Timney said in a statement. “In addition, she has expertly led our litigation efforts, while demonstrating leadership in advancing our company-wide Talent Management Strategy.”

Barton, a vice president at the company, will also become a member of the executive committee and report directly to Timney. Barton replaces Philip Strassburger, who took on the role of senior vice president for intellectual property (IP) and litigation.

“Given IP’s importance to our current business, as well as the business we are building, it is essential that we focus on this critical area,” Timney said. “During his 18 years at Purdue, Phil has demonstrated extraordinary creativity and skill in developing and executing IP strategies to incentivize drug development, and I am confident his best work on behalf of patients still lies ahead of him.”