By Giulia Petroni 



  Merck KGaA said Monday that it has appointed Belen Garijo as chair of the executive board and chief executive officer effective from May 1, 2021. 


  Ms. Garijo is currently vice chair of the board and deputy CEO as well as CEO of Healthcare. She will succeed Stefan Oschmann, who will leave the company as planned "to turn to other tasks," the German pharmaceuticals and chemicals company said. 


  Merck also said Peter Guenter will join the executive board of the company and assume responsibility of the Healthcare business sector effective from Jan. 1, 2021 at the latest. 


  Matthias Heinzel will also join the board and be responsible for Life Science effective from April 1, 2021 at the latest. 


  Write to Giulia Petroni at giulia.petroni@wsj.com