Merck Group Chief Financial Officer Matthias Zachert, has informed the Chairman of the Family Board, Frank Stangenberg- Haverkamp, as well as the Chairman of the Merck Executive Board, Karl-Ludwig Kley, that he has received the offer to be appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Lanxess AG. He therefore asked for an early release of his duties. Merck will accept his request. The effective date will be announced in due course.
Zachert has been a member of Merck’s Executive Board since June 2011. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp regretted his departure, “We are losing a proven expert who during his three years at Merck has realigned the global finance organisation and played a significant role in our transformation program, fit for 2018. We very much regret that Matthias Zachert will leave Merck, but understand his decision in light of the attractive assignment.”
Kley adds, “I thank Matthias Zachert very much for the successful and collegial cooperation, which all of us would have liked to continue. He has significantly contributed to further developing Merck in a positive way. His transparent capital market communication has clearly helped boost investor trust in our company. Matthias Zachert has earned great merit for our company. I wholeheartedly wish him luck and success in his new role at Lanxess. Merck will continue on its chosen path. The transformation process continues unabated.”
“I would like to express my sincere thanks for the trust and good collaboration with the supervisory bodies as well as with my colleagues on the executive board,” Matthias Zachert said. He adds, “Merck is a first-class company and I very much enjoyed contributing to the greatest change process in the company’s history of almost 350 years. I am convinced that the transformation over the coming years will continue to lead to success. It’s hard for me to leave Merck.”
Merck’s Board of Partners will decide about a successor for Matthias Zachert in due course.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai