Merck KGaA, will re-organize its Healthcare management structure and team. Effective September 30, 2015, Merck KGaA will be governed by the Healthcare Executive Committee, which will consist of four business functions and three supporting functions replacing the current Pharma Executive Committee. Like the existing committee, the new Healthcare Executive Committee will be chaired by Belén Garijo, member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA and CEO Healthcare.

On the Healthcare Executive Committee, Simon Sturge will assume the newly created role of chief operating officer overseeing all commercial regions and countries. In addition, his responsibilities will include the General Medicine franchise, which consists of products to treat cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, as well as Global Manufacturing and Supply. He will continue to oversee the Biosimilars and Allergopharma businesses, which he currently leads. Rehan Verjee, currently general manager Canada, will join the Healthcare Executive Committee as chief marketing and strategy officer. In his new role, he will be in charge of the business' global specialty franchises of Oncology, Neurology and Immunology, Fertility and Medical Devices as well as the global immuno-oncology alliance with Pfizer and various strategic functions, including business development.

Luciano Rossetti will continue to lead the Global R&D function as a member of the Healthcare Executive Committee. There will be no implications for the existing R&D strategy and operating model. Jitinder Saini will assume the new role of global chief of staff and head of the Strategy Realization Office and join the Healthcare Executive Committee. Andreas Stickler, global head of healthcare controlling, Randall Bradford, global head of healthcare human resources, and Monika Dorda, global head of healthcare gegal, will also be members of the Healthcare Executive Committee. Uta KemmerichKeil, CEO of Consumer Health, will continue to report directly to Belén Garijo.

Over the past four years, Merck KGaA has overhauled its Healthcare business and is now focusing on executing its three-pronged strategy, namely driving key pipeline projects such as its investigational cancer immunotherapy avelumab; maximizing its existing portfolio with drugs such as Rebif to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and its oncology drug Erbitux; as well as expanding further in growth markets.

Source: Merck KGaA