Norgine Names Dr. Rüdiger Merkel as New DACH Region Leader After Goldman Sachs Takeover

A century-old pharma giant turns a new page. Can Merkel’s Novartis experience steer Norgine’s growth under private equity ownership?

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2026 January 5 . 5:06 AM

1 min read

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Norgine Names Dr. Rüdiger Merkel as New DACH Region Leader After Goldman Sachs Takeover

Norgine, a European pharmaceutical company with over a century of history, has appointed Dr. Rüdiger Merkel as its new General Manager for the DACH region. The move follows a period of leadership changes and a major shift in ownership after Goldman Sachs acquired a controlling stake in 2022.

Founded in 1906, Norgine remained under the Stein family’s control until 2022. That year, Goldman Sachs purchased a majority share, valuing the company at roughly $1.9 billion. The business now employs around 1,300 staff across 15 countries and generates annual revenues of about €500 million.

Dr. Rüdiger Merkel takes over the DACH role after Sebastian Herzig left Norgine in early 2023. Herzig had led the region for over a year before departing to pursue self-employment. Merkel joins from Novartis, where he spent 22 years, most recently overseeing its immunology division since 2022. Earlier in his career, he managed brands and therapeutic areas for the Swiss pharmaceutical giant. Before Merkel’s appointment, Michael Lange had headed Norgine’s DACH operations. Lange has since moved to AOP Health, another healthcare firm.

With Merkel now leading the DACH region, Norgine continues its transition under new ownership. The company maintains a strong presence in European markets, supported by its long-standing workforce and steady revenue. No further CEO changes have been announced for 2023.