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August 7, 2018 3:30 pm ET

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada,
today announced the retirement effective November 30, 2018 of its chief
human resources officer Mirian M. Graddick-Weir, following 12 years of
service with the company. She will be succeeded by Steven C. Mizell, who
will join the company in October 2018.

Graddick-Weir joined Merck in 2006. During her tenure, she has been
instrumental in leading global and transformational change across the
business and the human resources function as well as strengthening the
diverse pipeline of talent. She will remain with the company until
November and will work closely with Mizell to ensure a successful
transition. “Mirian has made significant, enduring contributions as a
member of Merck’s senior leadership team,” said Kenneth C. Frazier,
Merck chairman and chief executive officer. “Her work has positioned us
to better attract and develop the workforce of the future.”

Mizell will join Merck from Monsanto, where he served as executive vice
president and chief human resources officer since 2004. He will be
responsible for the company’s global human resources function and will
serve as a member of Merck’s Executive Committee. “We are pleased to
welcome Steve as our new chief human resources officer,” said Frazier.
“His experience in leading human resources organizations, counseling
leaders and board of directors and maximizing human capital around the
world will make him a valuable contributor to our team.”

Throughout his career, Mizell has held positions of increasing
responsibility across a range of disciplines within the human resources
field. Prior to his role at Monsanto, Mizell was senior vice president
and chief corporate resources officer for Advance PCS, a large
prescription benefit plan administrator. He also was senior vice
president and chief human resources and real estate officer for the
technology company Zilog, Inc. Mizell is a Board Member of Oshkosh
Corporation, a manufacturer of specialty vehicles and access equipment.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from the
Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Management
and Public Policy Analysis from Carnegie Mellon University.

“Given Merck’s legacy, values and impact on the world, I couldn’t be
more honored to join the company,” said Mizell. “I look forward to
contributing to the Executive Committee and the organization at large.”

“I am proud of the Merck Human Resources team and its contributions to
the company during my 12 years leading this world-class HR
organization,” said Graddick-Weir. “I will leave Merck feeling satisfied
that I have contributed to its long-term mission and improving its most
important resource, which is people.”

About Merck

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical
company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been
inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of
the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription
medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we
work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver
innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to
increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs
and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of
research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that
threaten people and communities around the world – including cancer,
cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease
and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information,
visit www.merck.com
and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
YouTube
and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the
“company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs
and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to
significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove
inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may
differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry
conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest
rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of
pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the
United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost
containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained
by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development,
including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to
accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties
or delays; financial instability of international economies and
sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents
and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to
litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results
to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements can be found in the company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K
and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Merck
Media:
Claire Gillespie, 267-305-0932
or
Investors:
Teri Loxam, 908-740-1986