Merck Appoints Michael Klobuchar Chief Strategy Officer

Merck announced that Michael Klobuchar has been appointed executive vice president and chief strategy officer, a newly created role, effective July 5, 2021. As chief strategy officer, Klobuchar will become a member of Merck’s Executive Committee and lead the advancement and execution of the company’s strategy.

“Our company’s strength lies in the insight and expertise of our team and our unrelenting commitment to creating and deploying new medicines and vaccines that address important human and animal health needs,” said Rob Davis, president, Merck. “Mike’s insights, experience in key strategic, operational and financial roles, and deep commitment to scientific innovation will help drive our company’s evolution, and I look forward to collaborating with him in this important new role.”

“I am honored to become Merck’s chief strategy officer, and I look forward to working closely with Rob and the Executive Committee to advance our company’s strategy and amplify the impact of our company’s remarkable scientific capabilities in an evolving industry,” Klobuchar said. “I am continually inspired by our company’s 130-year legacy of scientific innovation that saves and improves lives, and I am humbled to have the opportunity to help sustain that legacy long into the future.”

Klobuchar is currently senior vice president, Merck Research Laboratories Finance and Global Project and Alliance Management. Prior to that he was the company’s senior vice president, Corporate Strategy and Financial Planning, and president, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund. Mike joined Merck in 1998 as a synthetic process development engineer supporting new pipeline candidates within MRL and has since held key technical, operational and financial roles across several areas of the company.