Dr Steven Hildemann has left the US-based Merck & Co to join its German namesake Merck KGaA as chief medical officer of its pharma business Merck Serono.
Dr Hildemann had been in his most recent role with Merck & Co – known as MSD outside the US – for just over a year, serving as associate VP of global clinical trial operations in Europe holding responsibility for the execution of development programmes across the region.
Prior to this role, he served as senior director of global clinical trial operations Europe.
He joined Merck & Co after the US pharma giant merger with his former company, Schering-Plough, in 2009. He had previously served as global project leader at Schering-Plough following a spell as medical director for the company’s operations in Germany.
His other former roles include working as a medical director for Amgen in Germany and as a senior global medical director cardiovascular for Pharmacia, and then later Pfizer after its takeover of the company in 2002.
As Merck Serono’s chief medical officer Dr Hildemann succeeds Dr Florian Bieber who left to “pursue other opportunities” according to the company.
He joins shortly after Merck Serono announced a new CEO in the form of former chief operating officer Belén Garijo, who is tasked with leading the company at a time of major restructuring.
Dr Hildemann will report to Merck Serono’s global head of R&D Dr Annalisa Jenkins, who commented that Dr Hildemann’s experience was “very impressive”.
“His patient-centred focus is well-aligned with our commitment to delivering differentiated new medicines to people living with unmet medical needs around the world,” said Dr Jenkins.