Merck KGaA, a company that operates its Healthcare business sector as EMD Serono in the US and Canada, announced on Thursday that, it has named Andrew Paterson as president of EMD Serono and global head of Innovative Medicine Franchises.

Paterson is to replace Rehan Verjee who has decided to leave the company to pursue an outside opportunity.

Paterson has over 30 years of leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. He has experience in multiple specialty therapeutic areas including Neurology, Fertility, Endocrinology, and Cardiovascular diseases, in global launch, global portfolio strategy, and in-country leadership roles. Presently, he is the senior vice president and head of both the Global Multiple Sclerosis Franchise and the Multiple Sclerosis business unit in the United States. He will be based in Rockland, Massachusetts, United States, and will serve as a member of the Healthcare Executive Committee.