Rehan Verjee to Lead EMD Serono as Company Advances its Innovative Medicines Strategy in North America

ROCKLAND, Mass., Aug. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada, today announced that Rehan Verjee has been appointed President of EMD Serono and Global Head of Innovative Medicine Franchises, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

"Uniting the leadership of North America with our Global Innovative Medicine Franchises will increasingly put North America at the heart of our strategy," said Belén Garijo, Member of the Executive Board and CEO Healthcare at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "Rehan's leadership experience and track record of working across commercial and R&D makes him perfectly suited to ensure we are well positioned to deliver on the promise of our innovative medicine efforts."

For the past three years, Mr. Verjee has been the Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Healthcare, at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, accountable for the global specialty franchises of Infertility, Oncology, and Neurology & Immunology, together with Global Market Access, Business Development, Strategy and Portfolio Management and the Medical Device and Services Unit. Prior to that, Mr. Verjee led the Canadian business as Managing Director.

In his new role, Mr. Verjee will take accountability for the U.S. and Canada biopharmaceutical business, while maintaining global accountability for the Oncology and Neurology & Immunology Franchises. He will assume full responsibility of the new position starting September 1, 2018.

"EMD Serono employees have played a significant role in advancing the treatment of several difficult-to-treat diseases. I look forward to continuing to advance our efforts in these areas and building on this heritage with the introduction of new medicines that hold real promise for even more patients," said Mr. Verjee.

Mr. Verjee succeeds Gary Zieziula, who has successfully led the business first as Chief Commercial Officer since January, 2014, and then as President, from January, 2016 until the present. Mr. Zieziula will remain with EMD Serono through the end of 2018 in support of the transition.

Mr. Verjee joined Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in 2004, holding management positions of increasing responsibility before joining the organization's Healthcare Executive Committee as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer in October 2015. Mr. Verjee holds a master's in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry from the University of Oxford in the U.K. He will relocate from Germany to the company's U.S. Headquarters in Rockland, Massachusetts.

About EMD Serono, Inc.
EMD Serono - the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada – is engaged in the discovery, research and development of medicines for patients with difficult to treat diseases. The business is committed to transforming lives by developing and delivering meaningful solutions that help address the therapeutic and support needs of individual patients. Building on a proven legacy and deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, EMD Serono is developing potential new oncology and immuno-oncology medicines while continuing to explore potential therapeutic options for diseases such as psoriasis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. Today, the business has approximately 1,300 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts. www.emdserono.com

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany 
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 53,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2017, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of € 15.3 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

Media contact:
Lisa Buffington 781-681-2340

SOURCE EMD Serono

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https://www.emdserono.com