Pharmaceuticals
10 Merck executives
These ten current and former Merck executives include its chairman and CEO, CFO, general counsel, chief medical officer and chief technology officer, plus executive vice presidents and presidents who lead or have led manufacturing, oncology, vaccines and specialty businesses. A reader can learn how Merck executives build and run their teams in pharmaceutical companies.
Professionals to explore
01—10Brian Foard
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President and President, Specialty, Pharma, & Infectious Diseases · Merck
Executive Vice President and President, Specialty, Pharma, & Infectious Diseases at Merck since March 2026, based in Rahway, New Jersey. Foard was Executive Vice President, Specialty Care at Sanofi (2024–2026), Head, Specialty Care North America, U.S. Country Lead at Sanofi (2023–2024) and Global Franchise Head Immunology at Sanofi (2020–2023).
Caroline Litchfield
LinkedInExperience: Chief Financial Officer · Merck
Chief Financial Officer at Merck since April 2021; the profile says Litchfield is executive vice president and CFO, responsible for the company's finance, procurement and real estate operations. At Merck Litchfield was also Senior Vice President & Treasurer (2019–2021), a role the profile says covered treasury, tax and investor relations, and Senior Vice President Finance - Global Human Health (2014–2018).
Eliav Barr
LinkedInExperience: Head, Global Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer, Merck Research Laboratories · Merck
Head, Global Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer, Merck Research Laboratories at Merck since April 2022; the profile says Barr has worked at Merck Research Laboratories for nearly 30 years and leads all late-stage clinical development for the portfolio and pipeline. Barr was Senior Vice President, Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Global Clinical Development at Merck (2016–2018).
Fran Geatens
LinkedInExperience: Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President · Merck
Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President at Merck since July 2025; the profile says the role is accountable for the company's long-term technology vision and strategy. At Merck Geatens was also VP, Technology Infrastructure, Operations, & Experience (2019–2025) and Executive Director, Enterprise Platforms (2014–2019).
Gregg Szabo
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Merck, and President, Global Vaccines & Infectious Diseases · Merck
Senior Vice President, Merck, and President, Global Vaccines & Infectious Diseases at Merck since November 2025. At Merck Szabo was also VP and Global Commercial Leader, HPV Vaccines (2023–2025), VP and Global Commercial Leader, Hospital & Infectious Disease (2022–2023) and VP and Global Commercial Leader, Virology Immunology (2019–2022).
Jannie Oosthuizen
LinkedInExperience: President Global Oncology & MSD International · Merck
President Global Oncology & MSD International at Merck since April 2026, and former President, Merck Human Health U.S. (2022–2026). Oosthuizen was President Merck Global Oncology at Merck (2021) and SVP President MSD Japan at MSD (2016–2020), and the profile describes managing P&Ls across multiple countries and regions.
Jennifer Zachary
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President and General Counsel · Merck
Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Merck since April 2018; the profile says Zachary is the chief legal advisor to the company, sets the strategy for the global legal team and leads the Environment, Health & Safety and Global Security organizations. Zachary was Partner at Covington & Burling LLP (2013–2018) and Associate Chief Counsel at FDA (2005–2011).
Michael Klobuchar
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer · Merck
Former Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer at Merck (2021–2024), and Chief Operating Officer at Eikon Therapeutics since October 2024. At Merck Klobuchar was also Senior Vice President, CFO COO of Merck R&D, Head of Global Portfolio and Alliance Management (2019–2021) and President of Emerging Businesses and Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Planning (2014–2019).
Rob Davis
LinkedInExperience: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer · Merck
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Merck since December 2022, and former Chief Executive Officer and President at Merck (2021–2022); the profile notes Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Davis was Executive Vice President, Global Services and Chief Financial Officer (2016–2021) and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2014–2016) at Merck.
Sanat Chattopadhyay
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President & President, Merck Manufacturing Division · Merck
Executive Vice President & President, Merck Manufacturing Division at Merck, a role listed from April 2016 with no end date, though the profile headline calls it a former role; the profile says the role served on the company's executive committee with responsibility for worldwide manufacturing and supply operations. At Merck Chattopadhyay was also Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing Operations (Human Health) (2014–2016).
Choose the right perspective
Match the executive's function or business to your question, since a commercial or manufacturing president sees different trade-offs than a corporate finance, legal or research leader. Check the dates on each person's Merck roles to see which periods and portfolios their experience covers.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does a large pharmaceutical company decide which late-stage programs and launches to fund?
- 02How do pharma executives plan manufacturing and supply capacity for a new vaccine or biologic?
- 03What does a large drugmaker's leadership look for in a licensing or acquisition partner?
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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