Jean-Charles Wirth

Jean-Charles Wirth is head of Science and Lab Solutions at the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (and/or its affiliates) and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council.

As head of the new Science and Lab Solutions business unit with more than €4 billion in sales, Wirth oversees commercial geographies, strategic accounts, marketing, product management, research and business development as well as eCommerce, strategy and services.

Prior to leading Science and Lab Solutions, Wirth was executive vice president – head of Applied Solutions, overseeing commercial, services, dealer relations, marketing, product management, strategy, business development and research activities for the Applied Solutions business unit. Wirth was also previously the head of Controlling for the Life Science business and played an active role in its transformation from a €2.3 billion to €6 billion solutions provider through a combination of organic growth, acquisition and strategic partnerships, while improving the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization pre margin from approximately 23% to 30%.

Wirth joined the company in 2006, and has served in a number of different positions, including head of Controlling for the company's Performance Materials business (now Electronics). Prior to that, Wirth served as a finance manager for Baxter. He has also held financial, controlling and consultant positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Crown Inc. and Alcatel Lucent.

Wirth has deep expertise in finance, strategic planning and problem solving and a reputation for building energized, focused teams. He has lived and worked in Africa, Europe and North America.

Wirth earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Sciences Po in Paris and graduated from the Ecole Supérieure de Gestion Paris Business School.