Pharmaceuticals
10 Merck procurement leaders
These ten people hold or have held director-level or higher procurement roles at Merck, from the senior vice president of the Global Supplier Management Group and a procurement vice president to executive directors and directors covering R&D, indirect, capital, professional services and animal health sourcing. A reader can learn how procurement leaders build and run their teams in pharmaceutical companies.
Professionals to explore
01—10Adam Randall
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director Procurement Operations, GSMG Central Functions · Merck
Former Executive Director Procurement Operations, GSMG Central Functions (2022–2025) and former Executive Director, R&D Sourcing and Procurement (2020–2022) at Merck. Executive Director, Digital Capability Lead at Merck since January 2025. Former Director, Research and Development Procurement (2017–2020) and Director, Global Procurement, Chemicals, Vaccine, and Biologics Direct Materials (2014–2017) at Merck.
David Cunning
LinkedInExperience: Associate Vice President, Global Supplier Management · Merck Animal Health
Associate Vice President, Global Supplier Management at Merck Animal Health since June 2017; the profile says the role leads procurement and external manufacturing for the Merck Animal Health business. Former Executive Director, Global Operations Sourcing (2012–2017) and Sourcing Director, Contract Manufacturing & Packaging (2011–2012) at Merck.
Edna Martinez Simmons
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director Procurement - Global Supplier Management · Merck
Executive Director Procurement - Global Supplier Management at Merck since February 2022. Former Associate Director, Procurement (Network Strategy) (2013–2016), a role the profile places in West Point, Pennsylvania, and former Sourcing Manager (2011–2013) at Merck. Former Senior Director (2021–2022) and Director (2016–2021) at EY-Parthenon.
Holly Askins
LinkedInExperience: Director, Global Procurement Process Excellence · Merck
Director, Global Procurement Process Excellence at Merck since May 2024; the profile says the role drives optimization of the processes, procedures and systems Merck Procurement uses. Former Director, Technology Procurement (2021–2024) and Associate Director, Technology Procurement (2020–2021) at Merck, and former Vice President, IT Financial Operations at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (2014–2020).
Keith Cooper
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Global Direct Materials, Capital, Sourcing and Operations Procurement · Merck
Vice President Global Direct Materials, Capital, Sourcing and Operations Procurement at Merck since April 2021. Former Global Executive Director - Engine and Powertrain Components Purchasing (2017–2019) and Global Executive Director - Raw Materials and Exterior Purchasing (2015–2017) at Ford Motor Company, and former Vice President Sales at Adient (2020–2021).
Nick Anousis
LinkedInExperience: AVP at Merck (Pipeline & Strategy) · Merck
AVP at Merck (Pipeline & Strategy) since October 2024; the headline places the role in Merck's Global Supply Management Group and describes direct materials procurement experience. Former AVP (2022–2024), Executive Director (2017–2022), Director - Procurement (2009–2017) and Sourcing Manager - Procurement (2005–2009) at Merck.
Nigel Garrett
LinkedInExperience: Director, Global Procurement - Professional Services · Merck
Director, Global Procurement - Professional Services at Merck since February 2022; the profile describes directing global indirect spend across professional services including advisory, legal, HR, BPO and finance. Former Associate Director - Global Capital Procurement at Merck (2017–2022), and former Category Manager - Capital Equipment, Engineering and Construction Practice at Accenture (2014–2017).
Rick Tarburton
LinkedInExperience: Director, Global Capital Procurement · Merck
Director, Global Capital Procurement at Merck since June 2016; the profile says the role manages sourcing of $1.5B in prime and subcontracted goods and services for Merck's capital program. Former Director, Global Procurement, Direct Materials Packaging and Drug Delivery Devices at Merck (2013–2016) and Associate Director, Global Category Manager at Merck & Company (2005–2013).
Susanna Webber
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Global Supplier Management Group · Merck
Senior Vice President, Global Supplier Management Group at Merck since April 2015; the headline describes the role as Senior Vice President, Global Supplier Management Group & Global Workplace Enterprise Services, Chief Procurement Officer at Merck. Former Executive at General Motors (1997–2015).
Yammel Sanchez Ocana
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director · Merck
Executive Director at Merck since December 2015; the headline describes the role as Executive Director, Indirect Procurement at Merck. Former Global Director, Indirect Procurement (2008–2015), Director, Procurement - Americas (2006–2008) and Purchasing Manager, Indirect Materials (2003–2006) at Johnson Controls.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope to your question: the supplier management senior vice president and vice presidents suit questions about procurement strategy and operating model, while executive directors and directors suit questions about one spend area such as R&D, capital or indirect services. Check whether each Merck role is current or past before asking about recent practice.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How should a pharmaceutical company organize a central supplier management group around direct, R&D, capital and indirect spend?
- 02What does good sourcing look like for a large capital construction program at a drug maker?
- 03How do procurement teams build digital capabilities and process excellence across a global sourcing organization?
Reaching Merck procurement leaders
How can I contact one of these Merck procurement leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 2 companies: Merck and Merck Animal Health, based on profile data retrieved on October 8, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Merck procurement leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
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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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