Merck, the global pharmaceuticals and chemicals company, has promoted three managers to head the life-science-tools and consumer health divisions as well as its allergy business unit.
Udit Batra, who over the past two years has managed the turnaround at Consumer Health, will become President and Chief Executive of Merck Millipore. He succeeds Robert Yates who, following the successful conclusion of the integration of Merck and Millipore into one life sciences division, has decided to leave the company to pursue opportunities outside Merck.
Uta Kemmerich-Keil
Uta Kemmerich-Keil, currently Chief Executive of Allergopharma and head of the global allergy business unit, will succeed Batra as President and Chief Executive of Consumer Health. With a long track record in the Group’s finance and M&A functions, Kemmerich-Keil took over the helm of the allergy business unit at the end of 2012, restructured the business and gave it a new strategic direction. She will be replaced at Allergopharma by Marco Linari, who last year was appointed commercial lead for the implementation of the Operating Model within Merck Millipore and Performance Materials. All changes will take effect from 15 May.
Marco Linari
Separately, Merck Serono President and Chief Executive Belén Garijo will take charge of the Research & Development organisation ad interim. Annalisa Jenkins will be leaving Merck Serono at the end of March. The search for a permanent leader of the R&D organisation is currently underway.
