OREANDA-NEWS. Merck, a leading science and technology company, announced that Volker Bouffier, Prime Minister of the German federal state of Hesse, presented Karl-Ludwig Kley, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, with the Hessian Order of Merit today.

"A strong state in which people show solidarity towards each other and live in peace, freedom and prosperity, needs a strong economy. And a strong economy needs people of action such as Karl-Ludwig Kley. During his decade in office, he has profoundly influenced the company and made it fit for the future," said Volker Bouffier during the ceremony at the State Chancellery of Hesse in Wiesbaden, Germany. "Karl-Ludwig Kley has taken on and shaped responsibility, thus successfully contributing to a strong economy in Hesse."

"This award is an honor for me and at the same time recognition of Merck as a company in Hesse," said Karl-Ludwig Kley on receiving the distinction. "Companies need a home, and Merck's home is Darmstadt in Hesse. Only those, and this includes companies, who remain true to their home can be genuinely global without losing their own identity. It was always important to me to apply this to Merck since roots are essential, both the intellectual and physical kind."

The Hessian Order of Merit has been granted since 1989 to recognize superb contributions made to the German federal state of Hesse. To date, Merck representatives who have received this Order of Merit are Peter Merck (member of the Executive Board of Merck, among other positions, died in 2014) and Hans-Joachim Langmann (former Chairman of the Executive Board).