- Stefan Oschmann’s successful tenure to be completed as planned by end of April 2021
- Belén Garijo nominated as Chair of Executive Board and CEO effective May 1, 2021; ensuring seamless transition and continuity in corporate management
- Two internationally experienced managers to join Executive Board
- Peter Guenter will take over responsibility for Healthcare business sector
- Matthias Heinzel will be in charge of Life Science business sector
Stefan Oschmann will hand over the Chair of the Executive Board of Merck to Belén Garijo in 2021. The Board of Partners of E. Merck KG has appointed Garijo as new Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck effective May 1, 2021. She is currently Vice Chair of the Executive Board and Deputy CEO of Merck as well as CEO Healthcare. Oschmann will leave the company as planned after ten years on the Executive Board, five of them as Chairman and CEO, to turn to other tasks. “I would like to thank Stefan Oschmann for an extremely successful tenure on Merck’s Executive Board. He has significantly shaped the company’s transformation into a globally leading science and technology company. Everyone who thinks of Merck today, immediately thinks of science & tech – and this worldwide. Merck’s extremely strong portfolio, its excellent company valuation and its bright future prospects are closely connected with Stefan Oschmann. He has especially driven the company’s turn to digital innovations and business models forward. Merck will substantially benefit from this in the long run,” said Johannes Baillou, Chairman of the Board of Partners of E. Merck KG. “With Belén Garijo an internationally very experienced and highly recognized manager will take over the Chair of the Executive Board of Merck. She knows our company extremely well and has done excellent work in transforming our Healthcare business sector. Belén Garijo and Stefan Oschmann have been collaborating closely and trustfully for many years. This will ensure a seamless transition and continuity in corporate management,” said Johannes Baillou. Peter Guenter will join the Executive Board of Merck effective January 1, 2021, at the latest. He will assume board responsibility for the Healthcare business sector and will be located in Darmstadt, Germany. Since 2017, Guenter has been CEO of the publicly listed pharma company Almirall in Barcelona, Spain. Like Merck, the company is predominantly family owned. The Belgian national previously held various country, regional and global management positions at Sanofi since 1995, last as Executive Vice President Global Diabetes and Cardiovascular. Guenter holds a Master’s degree in Physical Education from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Ghent, Belgium. “Peter Guenter has many years of experience and profound knowledge of the international pharma sector. Together with our global team he will work on ensuring a successful future of our Healthcare business. Merck has an attractive pipeline and is well positioned in key markets. That is the perfect basis for future growth,” said Johannes Baillou. Matthias Heinzel will join the Executive Board of Merck effective April 1, 2021, at the latest. He will assume board responsibility for the Life Science business sector and will be located in Burlington, Massachusetts, and Darmstadt, Germany. Heinzel is currently President Nutrition & Biosciences at DuPont and is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is a Member of DuPont’s Executive Board. Prior to that he held various global executive positions at DuPont in the U.S. and Germany since 2003. The German national studied industrial engineering at the Technical University Darmstadt, Germany, and holds a doctorate in business administration. He started his career at McKinsey. “The Covid-19 pandemic has once again emphasized the potential of our Life Science business sector as a problem solver. We are happy that Matthias Heinzel, who is an internationally experienced manager, will join us to take over this important position in a strongly innovation-driven environment. Together with our global Life Science team he will further strengthen our successful activities,” said Johannes Baillou. Kai Beckmann and Marcus Kuhnert will continue to pursue their current tasks as Members of the Executive Board. As of May 2021, the Executive Board of Merck will be structured as follows: Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO Board responsibility for Group functions Communications / Corporate Affairs / Environment, Health, Safety, Security, Quality / Human Resources / Internal Auditing / Legal & Compliance / Strategy & Transformation Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board CEO Performance Materials and Board responsibility for Group functions Inhouse Consulting / Patents & Scientific Information / Site Operations Peter Guenter, Member of the Executive Board CEO Healthcare Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board CEO Life Science Marcus Kuhnert, Member of the Executive Board Chief Financial Officer and Board responsibility for Group functions Information Technology / Procurement / Merck Business Services | 
