Merck KGaA appoints chief strategy officer

Darmstadt, Germany-based Merck KGaA has appointed Isabel De Paoli to the newly-created role of chief strategy officer.

De Paoli will head up the pharma firm's group strategy and transformation function, with responsibility for the integration of existing strategies, innovation and digitalization across Merck.

She takes up the chief strategy officer post in addition to her current position as head of group communications, reporting to Merck's chief executive and chairman Stefan Oschmann.

De Paoli first joined Merck in 2006 as business development manager, chemicals before promotion to head of strategic planning oncology in 2009. She has been responsible for the group's strategy and development process since 2012, taking on her current role last year.

Prior to this, De Paoli worked as a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group, also bringing experience from private equity firm Permira.

Oschmann said: “Over the past year, we've started to explore a variety of very promising innovation and digitalization projects to deliver on our promise as a science and technology company.

“Going forward, we will integrate those initiatives in a coherent strategy to ensure swift and successful implementation.

“Isabel De Paoli has built a strong track record in defining strategies and setting up organisations that yield efficient and effective returns - most recently in her role as head of group communications, successfully streamlining the organisation to support strategic objectives of our healthcare, life science and performance materials businesses.”