Merrill Lynch has appointed Robert Doll as president of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, the firm’s asset management arm. Doll replaces Jeffrey Peek, who quit.

David Komansky, chairman and CEO, and Stan O’Neal, president and COO, said “In his 18 years with Merrill Lynch and in a succession of senior management roles, Jeff has made many important contributions to the firm. Most recently, he was instrumental in transforming Merrill Lynch into one of the world’s leading asset managers for both institutional and retail clients.”

Peek reportedly left partly because O’Neal won the president’s office, putting him in line for the CEO’s job.

Under a new management structure, Doll will report to Michael Marks, who will become chairman of MLIM while retaining his responsibilities as the London-based executive chairman of the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Doll also joins the firm’s executive management committee.

“Bob Doll is widely respected within the global investment management community,” Komansky and O’Neal added. “As chief investment officer for our asset management business, he has been instrumental in strengthening the investment performance of Merrill Lynch products across the board. Both Bob and Michael bring proven management skills to the business and we are confident that, under their leadership, MLIM will continue its momentum of the past several years.”

Doll, 47, joined Merrill Lynch in June 1999 as chief investment officer for equities for MLIM Americas. He was named co-head of MLIM Americas in November 1999 and global CIO earlier this year. In addition to his new role as president of MLIM, he will continue to serve as global CIO.

Merrill also announced the appointment of Rosemary Berkery as general counsel of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. She becomes an executive vice president and joins the company’s executive committee, too. Berkery, 48, succeeds Stephen Hammerman as general counsel. Hammerman continues as vice chairman of the board and one of the members of the board’s executive committee.

As senior vice president and director of retail Marketing & Investments, Berkery was responsible for the development and implementation of Merrill Lynch’s private client marketing strategy. She was responsible for the overall coordination of USPC advertising and marketing communications activities across all service channels, and the development and marketing of equity, debt and customized investment products and services.