Jose V. "Zito" Sartarelli officially assumed his role as dean of the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University Aug.16.

"We are entering a time of great change, great excitement and great energy at the WVU College of Business and Economics," Sartarelli said. "It is our goal to lift the College and its students to new levels of academic standards, growth and success."

A native of Brazil, Sartarelli has worked for Johnson & Johnson as the pharmaceutical group chairman for Asia-Pacific, Japan and Latin America.

He served as president of two international groups and senior vice president of franchise management, business analysis and planning at Bristol-Myers.

A former member of the Council for the Americas, Sartarelli has also served as chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of American International Steering Committee.

Sartarelli received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Sao Paulo School of Business Administration in Brazil. As a Fulbright Scholar, he received an MBA in marketing and his doctorate in business administration from Michigan State University.