Marcus Kuhnert

Marcus Kuhnert is a distinguished financial executive who served as Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, from August 2014 to June 2023. During his nine-year tenure, Kuhnert demonstrated exceptional leadership in securing the company's strong financial position and positioning Merck for transformative growth opportunities that made the organization larger, stronger, and bolder. Born in Chicago in 1968, Kuhnert brought profound experience in transformation and efficiency enhancements to Merck, having previously spent 15 years at Henkel where he held various senior finance and management positions, culminating as CFO of the Laundry & Home Care business unit with €4.6 billion in annual sales. At Merck, Kuhnert played a pivotal role in major strategic acquisitions including Sigma-Aldrich and Versum, alongside his Executive Board colleagues creating an outstanding reputation within capital markets. His leadership was instrumental in Merck's 'Fit for 2018' transformation program, which created the foundation for profitable growth through comprehensive efficiency measures and the introduction of a new leadership organization. Under his financial stewardship, Merck delivered consistent profitable growth despite challenging external environments, with organic performance meeting guidance targets and nearly 90% of organic sales growth generated by their 'BIG 3' businesses. Kuhnert emphasized excellence in key enabling functions like IT and Finance, taking giant leaps in financial steering with high impact that earned external recognition. His strategic focus on achieving Merck's mid-term '25 by 25' targets while ensuring sound overall performance and financial stability enabled continued strong growth and profitability across the company's diversified portfolio. Known for his business acumen, dedication, and transformational leadership style, Kuhnert stepped down from his role on June 30, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of financial excellence and strategic vision that positioned Merck as a leading science and technology company.