Printed Electronics Now staff09.29.20
Stefan Oschmann will hand over the role of chair of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to Belén Garijo in 2021.
The Board of Partners of E. Merck KG, appointed Garijo as new chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck KGaA, effective May 1, 2021.
She is currently vice chair of the Executive Board and deputy CEO of Merck, KGaA, as well as CEO Healthcare.
Oschmann will leave the company as planned after 10 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 the Executive Board of Merck KGaA. He has significantly shaped the company’s transformation into a globally leading science and technology company. Everyone who thinks of Merck KGaA, today, immediately thinks of science & tech – and this worldwide," said Johannes Baillou, chairman of the Board of Partners of E. Merck KG, Darmstadt, Germany. "The company’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 KGaA will substantially benefit from this in the long run.
“With Belén Garijo an internationally very experienced and highly recognized manager will take over the chair of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA," Baillou continued. "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."
Peter Guenter will join the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, effective Jan. 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.
The Belgian national previously held various country, regional and global management positions at Sanofi since 1995, last as executive VP Global Diabetes and Cardiovascular.
“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 KGaA has an attractive pipeline and is well positioned in key markets. That is the perfect basis for future growth,” said Baillou.
Matthias Heinzel will join the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, effective April 1, 2021, at the latest.
He will assume board responsibility for the Life Science business sector and will be located in Burlington, MA, and Darmstadt.
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 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 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 KGaA will be structured as follows:
-
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 -
Beckmann, member of the Executive Board
CEO Performance Materials and Board responsibility for Group functions Inhouse Consulting/Patents & Scientific Information/Site Operations -
Guenter, member of the Executive Board
CEO Healthcare -
Heinzel, member of the Executive Board
CEO Life Science -
Kuhnert, member of the Executive Board
CFO and Board responsibility for Group functions Information Technology/ Procurement/ Merck KGaA Business Services
