Merck names Benjamin Hein as new Electronics CEO

Merck's new electronics business CEO Benjamin Hein speaks at the company's press conference during Semicon Korea in Gangnam District in a file photo from Feb. 2, 2024. Courtesy of Merck

Merck has appointed Benjamin Hein as a new member of its executive board and CEO of the company’s electronics business.

The company announced on Friday that Hein will officially assume the role on May 1, succeeding Kai Beckmann, who will take over as chair of the executive board and CEO of Merck Group on the same date.

Hein, 38, will return to the electronics business sector at Merck’s global headquarters in Germany after holding several global leadership positions across the group.

“During his 13 years at Merck, Ben Hein has consistently demonstrated strategic vision and a passion for innovation that has accelerated Merck’s growth,” the company’s Chairman of the Executive Board, Johannes Baillou, said.

“Leading the electronics business sector is a natural next step, where Ben will bring deep understanding of the industry and customers, and the technologies we create. His extensive leadership experience in Asia, Europe and the United States, make him perfectly suited for this role.”

To ensure a smooth transition, Hein will join the electronics' leadership team on March 1 as the head of its business growth and customer value.

Prior to his new position, Hein was head of life science services at the group’s pharmaceutical subsidiary, MilliporeSigma, overseeing contract development and manufacturing, and contract testing operations. Based in Massachusetts, he managed global operations across traditional and innovative modalities, including sales, R&D, manufacturing and supply chain.

Hein first joined Merck in 2011 and rejoined in 2014, building leadership experience across the group’s Life Science and Electronics businesses.

After serving as head of the group's strategy and the CEO office, he moved to the electronics business sector as head of its strategy and business transformation, carrying out major acquisitions, including Versum Materials and Intermolecular.

He subsequently assumed leadership roles in the sector, serving as general manager and head of delivery systems & services for the Chinese and Southeast Asian regions, delivering double-digit growth and strengthened partnerships with major local semiconductor customers. He later headed the specialty gases business, further deepening his operational and commercial expertise.