Dr de Brabander joins Merial with a broad background of executive R&D positions at DSM, the Netherlands-based global life sciences and material sciences company, and Intervet, the global animal health company. Her most recent position was Head of R&D for Intervet.

As Global Head of Merial R&D, Dr de Brabander will lead the company’s global research and new product development activities in nine R&D centers around the world. Merial’s R&D division employs more than 700 people.

“The Animal Health industry is a very attractive environment for research and development,” said Dr de Brabander. “There is a constant and strong demand for new and better products, but this is also a business with complexity and dynamics that are very different from other industries. It is exciting to be able to meet this market demand by applying new technologies that allow us to develop products that make a real difference for our customers. Merial’s capabilities in these new technological areas are impressive. I am fully committed to further strengthen the innovative power at Merial. I am very pleased to have joined Merial because it is an innovation-driven, world-leading animal health company with a strong existing foundation in all major species,” she said.

During the first part of Dr de Brabander’s career with DSM, she held successive global senior executive-level positions in the Coating Resins and Chemicals divisions. She was appointed CEO of DSM’s Pharma Chemicals in 2004. The following year, she was named Vice President Corporate Technology for all of DSM.

As Head of R&D and Board Member for Intervet beginning in 2006, Dr de Brabander was responsible for that company’s global R&D organization, managing the R&D activities in both vaccines and pharmaceuticals at 14 sites.

Dr de Brabander has a PhD in bio-organic chemistry from Leiden University, and completed a post-doctoral program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She will be relocating to Duluth from the Netherlands later this year.

Dr de Brabander succeeds Dr. Kevin Schultz, who leaves after performing the role of Head of Merial R&D for ten years. Dr Schultz will remain with Merial as a consultant on special projects and external collaborations.