Merck KGaA Appoints New Deputy Chief As CEO Kley’s Succession Is Pondered

September 18, 2014

By Riley McDermid, BioSpace.com Breaking News Sr. Editor

German drug and chemicals maker Merck KGaA (MRK) is once again rearranging its C-level suite, announcing Thursday that it had appointed the head of its pharma business, Stefan Oschmann, as deputy chief executive.

The move sparked speculation that Oschmann is being groomed to succeed current CEO Karl-Ludwig Kley when he does decide to move on.

Merck said that starting Jan. 1, 2015, Oschmann, 57, will share strategic management functions and representation of the company with Kley.

Merck’s biopharma chief executive officer Belen Garijo, 54, will now take over Oschmann’s duties as head of the Darmstadt-based company’s entire pharma unit. She currently captains Merck Serono, but will now add biosimilars, consumer health and allergy treatments to her brief.