Sanofi names Charmeil new vaccines chief

* Olivier Charmeil to replace Wayne Pisano on Jan. 1

* Charmeil has emerging markets expertise -CEO

PARIS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA), the French drugmaker mounting an $18.5 billion pursuit for control of Genzyme, named a new emerging markets-focused chief for its vaccines division on Friday. Olivier Charmeil, currently responsible for pharmaceutical operations in Asia-Pacific and Japan, will replace Wayne Pisano as senior vice-president of vaccines on Jan. 1, Sanofi said in a statement.

Sanofi Chief Executive Christopher Viehbacher cited Charmeil's expertise in emerging markets as one of the "core" strengths needed to boost the vaccines unit. (Reporting by Lionel Laurent; Editing by Hans Peters)