Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Merck reshuffles Healthcare leadership in North America and global strategy

Merck is making changes to senior roles in its Healthcare business. The Darmstadt based company has appointed Miguel Fernández Alcalde as Head of Global Commercial Strategy. Monia Vial will become President of EMD Serono, Merck’s Healthcare business in the United States and Canada.

The appointments affect key commercial leadership roles within Healthcare. Fernández Alcalde succeeds Andrew Paterson, who is retiring after 31 years with Merck. Vial joins Merck from Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals and takes over the North America role previously held by Fernández Alcalde.

Fernández Alcalde moves into global strategy

Fernández Alcalde has most recently served as President of EMD Serono. Since joining Merck in 2014, he has held several management positions, including Chief Operating Officer of EMD Serono, Head of Global Business Excellence and Innovation, and General Manager of Merck’s subsidiaries in Finland and Spain.

His background spans commercial, operational and strategic responsibilities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Universidad Complutense in Madrid, an MBA from the University of Alcalá de Henares, and a master’s degree in management from IESE Business School.

Vial joins from Ipsen

Monia Vial most recently served as Senior Vice President and Head of the US Rare Disease Business Unit at Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals. She brings more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, including roles covering local profit and loss responsibility, global brand strategy and business development.

Her therapeutic experience includes rare diseases, oncology and hematology. Earlier in her career, Vial worked in consulting before taking on roles of increasing responsibility at AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb and Shire Pharmaceuticals.

Vial holds a master’s degree in marketing from HEC Paris and a doctorate in pharmacy from Université Paris Cité.

Based in Boston

Fernández Alcalde and Vial will both be members of Merck’s Healthcare Executive Committee. Both executives will be based in Boston.