Benjamin Hein Appointed as Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO of Electronics 

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced the appointment of Benjamin Hein (38) as Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO of the company’s Electronics business sector, effective May 1, 2026. He will succeed Kai Beckmann, who was previously announced as the next Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, as of May 1. Benjamin Hein returns to Electronics after a global journey at Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and will be based in Darmstadt, Germany.

“During his 13 years at Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Ben Hein has consistently demonstrated strategic vision, and a passion for innovation that has accelerated the company’s growth,” said Johannes Baillou, Chairman of the Executive Board and Family Board of E. Merck KG, Darmstadt, Germany. “Leading the Electronics business sector is a natural next step, where Ben will bring deep understanding of the industry and customers, and the technologies we create. His extensive leadership experience in Asia, Europe and the U.S., make him perfectly suited for this role.”

To ensure a smooth transition, Benjamin Hein will take on the role of Head of Business Growth and Customer Value within Electronics and join the Electronics leadership team as of March 1st.

Prior to his current role, Hein served as Head of Life Science Services (now part of Advanced Solutions), leading the Contract Development Manufacturing Organization and Contract Testing services for the business. Based in Burlington, Massachusetts, U.S., he oversaw a global integrated organization spanning traditional and novel modalities across sales and marketing, R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain operations.

Hein first joined Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, briefly in 2011 and then returned in 2014 to join Inhouse Consulting. Since then, he has built a broad and deep leadership track record across the company, within the Life Science and Electronics business sectors as well as Enabling Functions. As Head of Group Strategy and the CEO Office, he helped redefine the company’s strategic direction across businesses and regions. He then moved into the Electronics business sector as Head of Strategy and Business Transformation, where he contributed to repositioning the business as a Semiconductor player through transformational acquisitions of Versum Materials and Intermolecular as well as the subsequent “Bright Future” transformation program.

Following this, Hein moved closer to operations in Electronics. As General Manager and Head of Delivery Systems & Services for Greater China and Southeast Asia, based in Taiwan, he grew the business at a high double-digit rate, evolved the portfolio strategically, and strengthened partnerships with leading semiconductor customers in the region. He later became the Head of Specialty Gases, further deepening his operational and commercial experience.

Hein holds a Master of Business (Marketing) from Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and a Master of Science in Strategic Marketing from Maastricht University, the Netherlands. He currently serves on the board of directors for the German-American Business Council of Boston.

As of May 2026, the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, will be structured as follows:

• Kai Beckmann, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO
• Danny Bar-Zohar, Member of the Executive Board & CEO Healthcare 
• Khadija Ben Hammada, Member of the Executive Board & Chief People Officer
• Benjamin Hein, Member of the Executive Board & CEO Electronics 
• Helene von Roeder, Member of the Executive Board & Chief Financial Officer
• Jean-Charles Wirth, Member of the Executive Board & CEO Life Science