EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA in the U.S. and Canada, has appointed Rehan Verjee as president of EMD Serono and global head of innovative medicine franchises for Merck KGaA.

“Uniting the leadership of North America with our Global Innovative Medicine Franchises will increasingly put North America at the heart of our strategy,” said Belén Garijo, chief executive officer, healthcare, Merck KGaA. “Rehan’s leadership experience and track record of working across commercial and R&D makes him perfectly suited to ensure we are well positioned to deliver on the promise of our innovative medicine efforts.”

For the past three years, Mr. Verjee has been the executive vice president, chief marketing and strategy officer, healthcare, Merck KGaA. He was accountable for the global specialty franchises of infertility, oncology, and neurology and immunology, together with global market access, business development, strategy and portfolio management and the medical device and services unit. Prior to that, Mr. Verjee led the Canadian business as managing director.

In his new role, Mr. Verjee will take accountability for the U.S. and Canada biopharmaceutical business, while maintaining global accountability for the oncology and neurology and immunology franchises. He will assume full responsibility of the new position starting September 1, 2018.

Mr. Verjee succeeds Gary Zieziula, who has led the business first as chief commercial officer since January, 2014, and then as president, from January, 2016 until the present. Mr. Zieziula will remain with EMD Serono through the end of 2018 in support of the transition.