The plan, taken as part of the business’s worldwide strategic plan and blueprint for significant growth, will result in centralising most Commercial, Marketing and Corporate Headquarter functions in Summit.
This worldwide plan follows the announcement in March 2011 that the animal health business remains a core part of Merck, its renaming to Merck Animal Health (MSD Animal Health outside the US and Canada) and an extensive evaluation of the business and its strategy including its geographical footprint.
“Merck Animal Health is well positioned in a number of fast growing segments within the global animal health market. We believe that we can operate more effectively and efficiently with the centralisation of our headquarter functions in the US,” commented Rick De Luca, Merck Animal Health President.
The structures of the HQ and the specific units and individual positions it will comprise have been outlined in a plan. The plan is expected to have impact on a limited number of positions at amongst others Merck’s Animal Health site in Boxmeer (the Netherlands), where redundancies are estimated to be in the order of 65.
The Boxmeer site will remain a pivotal part of the Merck Animal Health global business and strategy. The vital Biological R&D operation and a large and strong manufacturing organization will remain at Boxmeer, which is expected to continue to employ approximately 1700 employees.
Source: Merck/MSD Animal Health
