KENILWORTH, N.J. — Merck announced Wednesday that Caroline Litchfield has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective April 1, 2021. Litchfield succeeds Robert Davis; as previously announced (link), Davis, Merck’s current CFO, will become president of Merck, effective April 1, 2021, and will become chief executive officer on July 1, 2021.

“Ensuring our company’s sustainable financial strength is essential to enable Merck to deliver on our mission to save and improve lives and to create long-term value for all our stakeholders,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “Caroline’s appointment as our next CFO is the result of a combination of factors – most importantly, Caroline’s financial expertise, remarkable track record, and leadership – as well as our commitment to developing talent and our succession planning for leadership roles.”

“Caroline’s passion for Merck’s mission and for the patients we serve guides every decision that she makes,” said Davis. “I look forward to working with Caroline as our next CFO and to benefit from her expertise and leadership as we chart the course for Merck in the months and years ahead.”

“I’m honored to become Merck’s CFO at such a pivotal time, and to work closely with Ken, Rob and the executive committee to continue our company’s truly unique legacy of saving and improving lives and creating long-term value for patients, customers and shareholders,” Litchfield said.

Litchfield is currently the company’s treasurer, with responsibility for treasury, tax and investor relations. From 2014 to 2018, Litchfield led finance for Human Health, the company’s largest business, overseeing financial operations and reporting in approximately 100 markets. She joined Merck in 1990 in its U.K. business and has held a wide range of positions of increasing responsibility in the company’s country, regional and global finance functions.

Litchfield has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Leicester and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.