Wilmington-based drug-research company PPD has named a Pfizer executive to be its new CEO and chairman.

David Simmons takes over as CEO June 4, the company announced Wednesday. Simmons spent 15 years at Pfizer and was most recently president and general manager of the company's emerging markets and established products business units, which represent about $18.5 billion of Pfizer's annual revenue.

He has a degree in applied mathematics and industrial management from Carnegie-Mellon University.

"This is a remarkable opportunity to join and lead a world-class pharmaceutical services organization through its next phase of prosperity and expansion," Simmons said in a statement.

In December, PPD was acquired and taken private by two private equity firms, The Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman, for $3.9 billion.

Several media outlets are reporting that PPD, on the Triangle's largest drug-research companies, is talking about a sale to the Carlyle Group.

Bloomberg News, citing five anonymous sources, is reporting that Carlyle has edged out other private equity groups, including the Blackstone Group, that either bid or expressed interest in the company.

A Hickory, N.C.-based company that makes telecommunications equipment is in talks to be bought by a private equity firm for about $3 billion.

CommScope this morning confirmed that officials are in discussions with Washington-based Carlyle Group to sell the publicly traded company for $31.50 per share in cash.

CommScope has hired investment bank Allen & Co. as a financial adviser, but said it wouldn't comment further on a possible deal.

The company's shares closed Friday at $23.12, and were down more than 19 percent in the past year. On Monday, the shares jumped $7.04 to $30.16.

Duke Trustee David Rubenstein has donated $5.75 million to the university's Sanford School of Public Policy.

The gift will be used in three areas, Duke officials said in announcing the gift Tuesday. It will provide $3.5 million for the school's endowment to support its program in Environmental and Energy Policy; $1.125 million will be used to fund a speakers series, and $1.125 million will support internships for master's students.

The gift lets Sanford, which recently transitioned from an institute to a formal "school" designation, hit a $40 million fundraising benchmark. The school ultimately hopes to raise $65 million.

Rubenstein is a Baltimore native and 1970 Duke graduate. He is the co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms. Rubenstein Hall, which opened in 2005 on campus, bears his name in recognition of a previous $5 million gift.