Caroline Litchfield

Independent Director since: 2024

Key skills and experience:

• Leadership: Seasoned finance executive with a track record of success. As CFO of Merck, responsible for leading the finance, investor relations, procurement and facilities operations of a Dow 30 global health care company.
• Financial expertise: Brings deep expertise in finance, value creation, and delivery as a result of a 34-year career at Merck in positions of increasing responsibility in the company’s country, regional and global finance functions, including serving as the company’s CFO since 2021. From 2014 to 2018, led finance for Human Health, Merck’s largest business, overseeing financial operations and reporting in approximately 100 markets.
• Risk management: Acquired significant risk management experience as a result of her work with Merck’s Audit Committee, which oversees risk relating to finance, business integrity and internal controls over financial reporting through its interactions with key executives, including the CFO.
• Strategic planning: Played a pivotal role in transforming Merck’s portfolio through mergers and acquisitions, including its $11.5 billion acquisition of Acceleron Pharma in 2021. Instrumental in integrating Merck and Schering-Plough following their $41.1 billion merger in 2009.

Career highlights:

• Merck & Co., Inc., a global health care company 
  • Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2021-present)
  • Senior Vice President and Treasurer (2019-2021)
  • Senior Vice President Finance – Global Human Health (2014-2018)
  • Other executive positions (1990-2014)