German chemicals and pharmaceuticals producer Merck KGaA is streamlining its healthcare management team to accelerate growth. The company said the new organizational structure will facilitate execution of its newly focused three-pronged strategy aimed at driving key pipeline projects forward as well as expanding in growth markets.

With effect from Sept. 30, a Healthcare executive committee comprising four business functions and three supporting functions will replace the current Pharma Executive Committee. Belén Garijo, member of the Merck managing board will continue as CEO of Merck Healthcare.

Simon Sturge will assume the newly created role of chief operating officer, overseeing all commercial regions and countries. His responsibilities will include the General Medicine franchise, which consists of drugs for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, as well as Global Manufacturing and Supply. Sturge will also continue to lead the Biosimilars and Allergopharma businesses.

New on the Healthcare Executive Committee will be Rehan Verjee, currently general manager Canada. As chief marketing and strategy officer, he will be in charge of the business’ global specialty franchises of Oncology, Neurology and Immunology, Fertility and Medical Devices as well as the global immuno-oncology alliance with Pfizer and various strategic functions including business development.

Luciano Rossetti will continue to lead Merck’s gobal R&D function as a member of the Healthcare executive committee while another new Healthcare executive committee member, Jitinder Saini, will assume the newly created role of global chief of staff and head of the strategy realization office.

Rounding out the Health executive list will be Andreas Stickler as global head of healthcare controlling and Randall Bradford, global head of Healthcare human resources, and Monika Dorda, global head of Healthcare legal. Uta Kemmerich-Keil, CEO of Consumer Health, will continue to report directly to Belén Garijo.

“After having successfully restructured our business and rebuilt our pipeline, we are simplifying our organization to focus on driving the growth of our Healthcare business,” Garijo said. “With this new organization, we aim to accelerate the delivery of our pipeline in immuno-oncology, immunology and oncology, prepare for new global launches as well as maximize opportunities of our inline portfolio.”