With this election, Mr Represas will become one of 13 outside directors on the 14-member board. Mr Represas will stand for election by the company’s stockholders in April 2009.
In 2004, Mr Represas retired as executive vice president and head of the Americas for Nestle. Prior to serving in that role, Mr Represas held positions of increasing responsibility, including the position of chairman, president and CEO of Nestle Group Mexico from 1983 to 1994.
Separately, Merck has announced that Johnnetta Cole resigned from the board of directors, effective March 1, 2009 to become director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art.
Richard Clark, chairman, president and CEO of Merck, said: “Carlos has a broad range of global business experience that will be invaluable to Merck. We look forward to his insights and perspectives, and we welcome him to the board.”