Health care giant Johnson & Johnson has appointed one of its longtime lawyers, Matthew Orlando, as general counsel of the consumer health business that the company plans to spin out next year.

The consumer health business, which has not yet been named, has been battling a slew of lawsuits, including cases alleging it failed to warn consumers that its iconic baby powder could cause cancer. New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&J has denied any wrongdoing.

Orlando has been with J&J  more than 15 years, most recently serving as corporate secretary and worldwide vice president of corporate governance. In this role, he was in charge of environmental, social and governance initiatives.

When he joined J&J, he worked with J&J's European legal team. He later served as lead counsel of the cardiovascular care and specialty solutions group within the consumer medical device division. 

Prior to J&J, he was legal counsel of Belgium-based pharmaceutical company UCB/Cytec and solicitor at Australia-based Summers Partners.

J&J's consumer business, which is based in Skillman, New Jersey, generates about $15 billion in annual revenue.

Elizabeth Forminard, a former Pfizer lawyer, who has worked with J&J since 2006 and has served as general counsel of its pharmaceuticals division, will be general counsel for the successor drug and medical device business. She will succeed longtime legal chief Michael Ullmann, who is retiring this year.