Merck : Allan Gabor Takes Over the Leadership of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in China

Darmstadt, Germany, December 12, 2017 - Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced an upcoming leadership change in China. Allan Gabor will succeed Alasdair Jelfs as Managing Director and Country Speaker as of February 1, 2018. He will also take over operational responsibility for the Performance Materials business in China. Additionally, Allan Gabor will become a permanent member of the Performance Materials Leadership Team. In his new position, he will report to Kai Beckmann, CEO Performance Materials and Executive Board member responsible for Asia.

'I am very happy that Allan Gabor, who has extensive management experience, also in China, will be taking on this important task in one of the most important regional markets for our company. He has known the sector and the country for two decades and has already achieved important advances in our Healthcare business in China,' said Beckmann, who also praised the accomplishments of Alasdair Jelfs: 'I thank him for his many years of service in China.' Jelfs will take over other responsibilities at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

The inclusion of the future head of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in China in the Performance Materials Leadership Team underscores the strategic importance of the Chinese market to the business sector. The change is part of a realignment of the entire business sector, which under the leadership of Kai Beckmann has developed a strategy to sharpen its focus on markets and customers. The OLED materials business will be combined with the Liquid Crystals business into a single business unit. In addition, all activities pertaining to research, business development and external partnerships will be united in a central research and innovation unit. Production and Supply Chain activities will also be realigned.

Allan Gabor has been working for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, since 2013 and serves as the Head of the Biopharma business in Asia, including China. He has more than 25 years of management experience in leadership roles in countries such as China, Turkey, Russia, and the United States. Prior to joining Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, he was head of Pfizer in China, where he has been working since 1999.