News releases
MSD Switzerland Appoints Mehrdad Doustdar as Managing Director
Lucerne, September 10, 2026 – MSD Switzerland a leading biopharmaceutical company, today announced the appointment of Mehrdad Doustdar as Managing Director, effective November 1, 2026.
He will lead MSD’s Swiss subsidiary and oversee the company’s strategic growth and presence in Switzerland, with a focus on advancing innovation and improving outcomes for patients.
Doustdar, 45, joins MSD Switzerland after almost 20 years with MSD, during which he has held leadership positions across several European markets and at regional level. Most recently, he served as Managing Director of MSD Czechia & Slovakia and Chair of the AIFP Board of Directors, the Czech pharmaceutical industry association.
“Switzerland is home to a world-leading life sciences ecosystem and plays an important role within MSD globally”, said Catherine Williams, Northern and Central Europe Lead. “Mehrdad brings a wealth of international experience, a strong track record of business leadership, and a deep commitment to patients, employees and innovation. I am delighted to welcome him to Switzerland and look forward to working together as we continue to strengthen our impact for patients and society.”
Williams thanked Jasper Kunow for serving as ad interim Managing Director of MSD Switzerland and for his leadership and commitment in ensuring a successful transition. He will continue to focus on his role as Mediterranean, Eastern Europe & Baltics Lead.
“I am honored to take on the role of Managing Director”, said Mehrdad Doustdar. “Switzerland is one of the world’s most dynamic healthcare and innovation hubs. I look forward to working with our talented colleagues and external partners to advance MSD’s mission of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives.”
Doustdar is Austrian and holds a master’s degree in International Business Administration from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. He will relocate to Switzerland with his family.
MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme in Switzerland
MSD, a leading biopharmaceutical company, employs over 1,000 people in Switzerland at three sites. The company’s headquarters are in Lucerne. At the site in Zurich, in “The Circle”, MSD operates a global innovation and development hub. In addition, we manufacture medicines for global clinical trials and operate a forensic laboratory in Schachen (Canton Lucerne). MSD conducts around 40 clinical trials annually in Switzerland alone. The main therapeutic areas of MSD are oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. We also have a broad portfolio of vaccines for the prevention of diseases in children, adolescents, and adults and we are one of the leading companies in veterinary medicine in Switzerland. Furthermore, we take our responsibility to the local community seriously and have been involved for many years in initiatives such as the «Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern» and the «Alliance Health Competence».
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Media Contact
Antonio Ligi
Head of Communications
MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, Bürgenstrasse 8, 6005 Lucerne. Switzerland.
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CH-NON-03502, 09/2026