DARMSTADT, Germany, September 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

• Stefan Oschmann appointed Deputy CEO and Vice Chairman of the Executive Board    
• Belén Garijo appointed new member of the Executive Board  
• Changes effective from January 1, 2015  

Merck today announced that the Board of Partners has promoted Stefan Oschmann (57) to the position of Deputy CEO and Vice Chairman of the Executive Board. Concurrently, Belén Garijo (54) was appointed to the Executive Board to take over leadership for the Pharma business. The management changes will become effective as of January 1, 2015.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140924/706485-a )
     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140924/706485-b )

Oschmann, currently CEO Pharma, will represent Karl-Ludwig Kley, Chairman of the Executive Board. Both will share strategic management functions and will represent the company with politicians and international organizations.

As a member of the Executive Board, Garijo, currently CEO of Merck's biopharmaceutical division Merck Serono, will take on responsibility for the whole Pharma business. Besides Merck Serono, this includes Consumer Health, Allergy and Biosimilars.

"With today's management decisions we strengthen Merck's leadership team and prepare the ground for continuity to reach our ambitious growth targets until the year 2018 and beyond," said Johannes Baillou, Chairman of the Board of Partners of E. Merck KG. "Stefan Oschmann who has successfully reorganized our pharma businesses over the past years will familiarize himself with Group-wide functions and will increasingly assume external responsibilities for the company. Belén Garijo has many years of experience in the pharma industry, has proven that she can further develop our business organization and in her future role will provide a significant contribution to ensure the sustainable success of our pharma businesses."

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Merck is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. With its four divisions Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Performance Materials and Merck Millipore, Merck generated total revenues of € 11.1 billion in 2013. Around 39,000 Merck employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to further the success of our customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company - since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70% interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany is holding the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company is known as EMD.

SOURCE Merck