Danny Bar - Zohar

Danny Bar-Zohar became a member of the Executive Board and CEO of Healthcare at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in June 2025.

Danny joined the company in 2020 as the Global Head of Development. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as the Global Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer. Danny was instrumental in transforming the R&D organization. His R&D leadership was characterized by a commitment to flawlessly executing discovery and development programs, while also strengthening external innovation opportunities to ensure seamless alignment with commercial strategies. Additionally, he focused on empowering a future-ready organization in the age of AI by integrating digital expertise and capabilities into all R&D operations.

Before joining Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Danny worked at Novartis, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and venture capital firm Syncona Investment Management. His experience spans global drug development from strategy to execution across nearly every modality, including small molecules, therapeutic peptides, antibodies, and gene therapy. His visionary and bold approach to R&D has contributed to multiple new global therapeutic approvals at both Teva Pharmaceuticals and Novartis.

Earlier in his career, Danny spent several years training as a general surgeon at the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel and served as an airborne rescue physician in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Danny was born in 1970 in Israel. He received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and his Bachelor of Medical Sciences from Tel Aviv University in Israel.