Merck Foundation created and CEO set in place

pharmafile | July 5, 2017 | Appointment | Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing Merck Foundation, Merck KGaA 

Merck KGaA announced that is has created the Merck Foundation and has appointed Rasha Kelej as its CEO. The role of the foundation will be to “advance lives through science and technology in developing countries and underserved communities”.

Merck explained that the creation of the foundation would allow the company to combine its corporate responsibility activities under one entity, as well as aiming to expand the scope its action. The separate, non-profit company will be overseen by Chairman Stangenberg-Haverkamp, who will monitor the organisation’s progress.

The overall direction of the company will be organised by Kelej, who has worked at Merck since 1996. Kelej has worked across a wide range of roles at the company, beginning with being a Key Account Manager at Merck Serono before moving through to becoming Vice President, Head of Global Customer Centricity.

Kelej then moved onto becoming SVP, Chief Social Officer at Merck Healthcare before taking up her newest role as CEO of Merck Foundation.

“The Merck Foundation will focus on initiatives that will contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations. To achieve the foundations’ goals, we will develop and implement coherent strategies, result-oriented programs and initiatives, provide grants to support projects and help raise funds where needed,” said Rasha Kelej, on her appointment and goals for the foundation.

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