By Robb M. Stewart

Medical-technology company Becton Dickinson & Co. has named David Melcher to helm the board of its Diabetes Care business it plans to spin off into an independent, listed company.

In addition to appointing Mr. Melcher as nonexecutive chairman, BD said Claire Pomeroy would be a director when the spinoff is completed, which it expects will be in the first half of next year. Additional appointments to the new company's board and executive team are expected to be made before then, BD said.

The company said Mr. Melcher, 67, brings strong executive experience from years in leadership positions in the defense sector. He also has extensive experience in spinoffs, having served as the inaugural chief executive at Exelis after its spinoff from ITT Inc., where under is leadership Exelis later spun off its mission systems business.

Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-12-21 0731ET