Merck, a worldwide research-driven healthcare company, announced that Udit Batra was named CEO and president of Merck Millipore, its life science division. In this role, Batra will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of growth and product innovation. He will also oversee worldwide operations.

Batra moves to this new position from the consumer healthcare division of Merck KGaA. Prior to that, he was head of global public health and market access at Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, in addition to other executive positions at the company. He also served as CEO and country president for that pharmaceutical business in Australia. Previously, he was at Johnson & Johnson and McKinsey, a global management consultant firm. Batra is the chair of the food supplements committee of the Association of the European Self-Medication Industry and a member of the World Self-Medication Industry. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware in 1991 and a Ph.D. from Princeton in 1996, both in chemical engineering.

Headquartered in Massachusetts, Merck Millipore, with over 40,000 products in its portfolio, is a supplier to the life science industry and serves as strategic partner to scientists, engineers and researchers.