Singapore: Merck has appointed Sanat Chattopadhyay as executive vice president and president of Merck Manufacturing Division (MMD), effective April 1, 2016. Chattopadhyay will succeed Willie A Deese who will retire on June 1, 2016 after 12 years with the company.

With more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience, Sanat has a proven track record of commercialization, manufacturing and supply chain excellence in therapeutic proteins, vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Under his leadership I am confident that MMD will continue to advance toward its goal of becoming a world-class supplier," said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck.

Mr Chattopadhyay joined Merck in 2009 and currently serves as senior vice president of Global Manufacturing Operations (Human Health). He was instrumental in transforming Merck Vaccines' manufacturing and supply to grow and globalize the company's vaccines business. Chattopadhyay also played a key part in leading the company's launch of KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in record time by mobilizing a cross-divisional effort to overcome commercialization and supply constraints.