Scholefield follows close on the heels of a similar executive addition at Pfizer, which recruitedQuest Diagnostics’ chief information officer for its executive ranks. His hire was part of a reshuffling earlier this month as incoming CEO Albert Bourla assembles his own team.

SPECIAL REPORT: Top 15 pharma companies by 2017 revenue | Merck & Co.

And in moves more closely mirroring Merck’s, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline each plucked consumer executives for their digital teams. Novartis brought in Bertrand Bodson from the retail industry last August to head up its digital efforts. In March, the Swiss drugmaker’s new CEO, Vas Narasimhan, promoted Bodson to his executive committee, citing digital and data as top priorities. GSK chief Emma Walmsley snagged a former Walmart Stores exec to help the company harness IT and digital to augment its own transformation.

Scholefield’s resume includes spearheading a “digital transformation” at Nike, Merck said in announcing its new exec—and one of his accomplishments was delivering “state-of-the art cyber-security,” the company said.

“His extensive experience leading large global IT organizations for multinational companies, including developing innovative digital capabilities, makes him an exceptional addition to our team,” Robert Davis, Merck’s CFO and executive vice president of global services, said in the statement.