North Chicago, Illinois-based pharmaceutical company AbbVie Inc. has announced that general counsel Laura Schumacher was promoted to the role of vice chairwoman, external affairs and chief legal officer and is one of four executives who will report directly to Chairman and CEO Richard A. Gonzalez.

According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, her promotion was effective on Dec. 13.  She will be responsible in her new role for legal, ethics and compliance, corporate governance, corporate aviation and all externally facing functions, including health economics outcomes research, government affairs, corporate responsibility, brand and communications, a news release on Monday stated.