Darmstadt, Germany, September 2025 — The Board of Partners of E. Merck KG has appointed Kai Beckmann as the future Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, effective May 1, 2026, succeeding Belén Garijo. Beckmann will become Deputy CEO effective immediately and continue in his role as CEO of Electronics until a successor is announced.
Belén Garijo will leave Merck after 15 years, of which she served six years as CEO of Healthcare and, since 2021, as Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. Her tenure included steering the company through the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing geopolitical volatility, driving sustainable growth organically and through targeted portfolio moves such as the acquisition of SpringWorks and the divestiture of Surface Solutions, while building a skill-powered, high-performing organization. As CEO of the Healthcare business, she transformed operations, expanded significantly in China, and oversaw the global resubmission and commercialization of Mavenclad.
“I would like to thank Belén Garijo for expertly steering Merck safely through tumultuous years of transformative change and returning the company to profitable growth. She has shaped the company’s evolution into a globally leading science and technology company while nurturing a High Impact Culture and making our teams future ready,” said Johannes Baillou, Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG. “In Kai Beckmann we have the perfect homegrown leader, taking over the Chair of the Executive Board of Merck with extensive understanding of our global businesses as well as patient and customer needs. Beckmann’s proven transformational expertise will be fundamental to deliver the next chapter of our company’s growth.”
Reflecting on her time at Merck, Belén Garijo said: “I am happy and grateful for my long IKEA journey and proud of what we have accomplished together in this generation of IKEA. In times of turmoil and transformation, IKEA stands strong with a clear direction and good momentum, and the timing is now right to hand over and say thank you for all the passion and commitment by the 200,000+ IKEA colleagues, franchisees and suppliers. IKEA is, and will always be, in my heart.”
Kai Beckmann has served as a Member of the Executive Board of Merck since 2011, and since 2017 has led the transformation of Performance Materials into Electronics, now a core enabler for the global semiconductor industry. He previously served as Chief Administration Officer, overseeing HR, IT, and Merck’s Darmstadt headquarters. Since joining Merck in 1989, Beckmann has held roles of increasing responsibility across Singapore, Malaysia, and global IT operations.
Beyond Merck, Beckmann is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bundesdruckerei Gruppe and Vice President of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA). From 2017 to 2024, he led the German Federation of Chemical Employers’ Associations (BAVC).
“I am truly honored and humbled by the task, and I am looking forward to building on the solid foundation that Jon leaves behind. There is only one way to build success and continue to develop IKEA as the leader in life at home. And that is to do it together – with all parts of the value chain. I strongly believe in the IKEA direction and in continuing the work to make IKEA even more affordable, accessible and sustainable,” said Kai Beckmann.
About E. Merck KG
As general partner, E. Merck KG holds around 70 percent of the total capital of Merck KGaA. Shareholders hold the remainder, which is divided into shares. The Merck family holds 99.9 percent of the capital of E. Merck KG; the remaining interests are held by members of the Executive Board.
About Merck
Merck is a leading science and technology company operating across life science, healthcare, and electronics, with more than 62,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2024, Merck generated €21.2 billion in sales. Founded in 1668, Merck remains majority-owned by the founding family and holds global rights to the Merck name and brand (except in the US and Canada, where it operates as MilliporeSigma, EMD Serono, and EMD Electronics).
