Boards & Committees

We combine the dynamism of a global, technology-driven company with the long-term thinking of our founding family. It’s this mix of traditional values and innovation that shapes our strategy and success.

Steering for success

Our company is organized as a Corporation with general partners (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien - KGaA): a hybrid of an Aktiengesellschaft (German stock corporation) and a Kommanditgesellschaft with a focus on German stock corporation law. At least one partner has unlimited liability for the company’s creditors (general partner). Currently all members of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, are general partners with personal liability. The others (shareholders) hold an interest in the share capital without any personal liability for the company’s debts. Shareholders hold around 30% of the total capital of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and the Merck family owns an interest of around 70% via the general partner E. Merck KG, Darmstadt, Germany which is represented by the Board of Partners. This board makes policy decisions for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and shapes our corporate strategy. The Board of Partners supervises the Executive Board in its management of the company.

Our Executive Board and Supervisory Board steer and monitor the realization of our vision together with the Board of Partners. All board members build on years of experience and a wide set of skills to contribute to our success.

So do our Committees: by closely supervising our business activities and acting as competent advisors in the fields of Personnel, Finance and Research and
Development.

Committees

Members
- Johannes Baillou (Chair)
- Dr. Wolfgang Büchele*
- Michael Kleinemeier*
- Simon Thelen
Among other things, the Personnel Committee is responsible for the following decisions concerning members and former members of the Executive Board: contents and conclusion of employment contracts and pension contracts; granting of loans and salary advances; changes to the compensation structure and adaptation of compensation; approval for taking on honorary offices, board positions, and other sideline activities; and division of responsibilities within the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

* external
Members
- André Wyss* (Chair)
- Carl Christoph Schweickert
- Dr. Daniel Thelen
- Prof. Dr. Simon Thelen
Among other things, the Finance Committee is responsible for analyzing and discussing the Annual Financial Statements, the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the respective reports of the auditor, as well as the half-year financial report and the quarterly statements. In addition, the Finance Committee addresses Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s net assets, financial position, results of operations, and liquidity, as well as accounting issues. Upon request of the Board of Partners, the Finance Committee examines investment projects that must be approved by the Board of Partners and provides recommendations pertaining thereto.

* external
Members
- To be determined
The Nomination Committee is responsible for proposing to the Supervisory Board suitable candidates for its proposal to the Annual General Meeting. Apart from legal requirements and the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code, the “Objectives of the Supervisory Board with respect to its composition,” “Profile of skills and expertise,” and the “Diversity Policy” are to be taken into consideration as well.
Members
- Dr. Susanne Schaffert* (Chair)
- Dr. Katharina Kraft
- Prof. Dr. Simon Thelen
Among other things, the Research and Development Committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing the research activities of the Life Science, Healthcare, and Electronics business sectors. Meetings regularly include the Chair of the Executive Board as well as the CEO Life Science, the CEO Healthcare, and the CEO Electronics.

* external
Members
- Barbara Lambert* (Chair)
- Katja Garcia Vila*
- Sascha Held*
- Michael Kleinemeier*
- Dr. Christian Raabe*
- Michael Reinhart*
The Audit Committee is generally responsible for accounting and auditing matters. This includes sustainability reporting and auditing the sustainability reports. In particular, its responsibilities include auditing the Annual Financial Statements, the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the respective reports of the auditor, as well as the half-year financial report and the quarterly statements. The Audit Committee discusses the assessment of audit risk, the audit strategy and audit planning, and the results of the audit with the auditor. The Chair of the Audit Committee regularly discusses the progress of the audit with the auditor and reports back to the committee. The other responsibilities of the Audit Committee include assessing the performance of the auditor, and especially the performance of the auditor in charge of the engagement. The Audit Committee is also tasked with sustainability.

*external

Shareholders

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Shareholders

Our investor base is as diverse and international as our company itself. Since our share is a bearer share only, NASDAQ provides an analysis of our top investors as well as our shareholder structure by type and region.

Annual General Meeting

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Annual General Meeting

Every year, our shareholders come together to make important decisions on our company’s business. We provide comprehensive material to help them make well-informed voting decisions.

Directors Dealings

As required by German law, we are transparent about any transactions, above a certain threshold, made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.