AstraZeneca’s Evan Lippman takes US role at Merck KGaA

Merck KGaA has announced several senior US appointments at its EMD Serono division.

These include the selection of AstraZeneca's Evan Lippman (pictured) as senior VP of neurodegenerative diseases and rheumatology and the internal promotion of Allene Diaz to the newly created role of senior VP, head of US oncology.

The remaining changes are Rami Levin's promotion to VP of marketing, neurodegenerative diseases and rheumatology and confirmation that Craig Millan will be senior VP and head of EMD Serono's US fertility, metabolic endocrinology and HIV franchise having held the role on a temporary basis until now.

“Their knowledge, experience and global perspective will strengthen EMD Serono as a leader in biopharmaceuticals in the US,” said James Hoyes, president of EMD Serono.

“Furthermore, these appointments underscore our commitment to recruiting top external talent and promoting great talent from within.”

Lippman joins EMD Serono from AstraZeneca (AZ) where he most recently served as executive director of the company's Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) brand.

Previously, he held several senior roles at AZ including executive director and head of US business development. Lippman has also spent time at Pfizer.

Diaz has been involved in EMD's oncology business in the US since 2008, serving as VP oncology marketing. In addition, she also held the role of acting head, oncology global strategic planning from July 2010 to May 2011. Prior to that she held senior roles at Amylin Pharmacueticals, Biogen Idec and Pfizer.

Levin has spent nearly 15 years at Merck, and most recently served as chair and managing director of Merck AB in Sweden and Iceland. In his new role, he will report directly to Lippman.

Millan has been serving in his newly confirmed position on an 'ad-interim' basis since earlier this year. Prior to this, he was EMD Serono's VP of endocrinology marketing, leading marketing efforts across reproductive health, growth hormone deficiency and HIV-related metabolic disorders.

Before joining Merck, Millan served as VP, commercial at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and has previous experience in marketing roles at Pfizer.