Elmar Schnee

Elmar Schnee, General Partner and Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA spoke in his lecture "Acquisition and transformation in the pharmaceutical industry" about ways and strategies for the further development of one's own business activities and the opportunities associated with entrepreneurship in an international pharmaceutical company.

Mr. Elmar Schnee joined the Merck subsidiary Merck Santé S.A.S. in Lyon, France, as Director in 2003. The following year, he assumed additional global operational responsibility for the Ethicals division and was appointed Head of this division in 2005. In 2005, he was appointed deputy member of the Executive Board and assumed responsibility for the Pharmaceuticals division. In 2006, he became a full member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA and General Partner. In addition to the above positions, Schnee has been Chief Executive Officer of Merck Serono International S.A. since 2007.

Merck KGaA, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with around 32,000 employees in over 60 countries, generates total revenues of around â'¬ 7.1 billion (2007). The Pharmaceuticals business sector comprises innovative prescription drugs as well as products for self-medication. The Chemicals business sector offers specialty products for the electronics, colorants, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Merck is the oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company in the world, with roots dating back to 1668.

In his contribution to the 16th Munich Management Colloquium, Mr. Elmar Schnee will discuss how innovative and risk-taking employees and thus entrepreneurship in the company can contribute to a successful and sustainable acquisition and transformation in the pharmaceutical industry.

Status: Beginning of 2009