Sebastien Bals

Sebastien Bals, Chief Procurement Officer at Merck, didn’t originally set out to lead procurement at a science and technology company. With a background in marketing and an early aim to work in product management, his career direction shifted thanks to a pivotal moment during a trainee scheme at travel firm Thomas Cook. A mentor suggested trying procurement and that single nudge changed everything.

From that unexpected turn, Sebastien built a career which spanned global sectors including tourism, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and life sciences. Before joining Merck KGaA, he held senior roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev and UCB. Now he is part of one of Germany’s oldest privately held companies.

Merck, founded in Darmstadt more than 350 years ago, is still largely family-owned. That long history and rare structure were part of what drew Sebastien in. “First of all, Merck is probably one of the oldest companies in Europe and potentially, even in the world,” he says. 

That legacy struck a chord. “I like working for organisations that have a long term vision,” he adds. “Of course, there are short term things that we need to manage because the environment in which we operate is changing on a daily basis. But the fact that you have the ability to also think long term is really something that I appreciated.”

Beyond the company’s heritage, it was the role itself that piqued his interest. Merck operates across three sectors — healthcare, life science and electronics — each with its own complexities and potential. For Sebastien, joining meant stepping into two industries he hadn’t previously worked in, and that was part of the appeal.

“I’m a very curious individual,” he says. “And with a belief in lifelong learning. Having spent 12 years at UCB I am very familiar with the healthcare industry but the life sciences and environment sectors are totally different. So getting to know these industries has intrigued me a lot.”

Sebastien sees himself as someone who simplifies complex challenges and makes them accessible through storytelling.

“I believe I have a strong ability to connect complex topics and connect the dots,” Sebastien states. “I have a good ability to tackle abstract topics by finding linearity in things which might not be linear or which might not seem linear at first. I also think as a person I’m quite a good storyteller, which is important when you talk about transformational revolution.”

His professional credibility also extends into the wider procurement community. Sebastien serves as an ambassador for The Sustainable Procurement Pledge and is an Advisory Board Member for Procurement Leaders, contributing to the conversation on ethical sourcing, innovation and future-ready supply chains.

Throughout his career, Sebastien has championed procurement as more than a cost-saving function. He sees it as a strategic lever — one that influences sustainability, innovation, risk management and business growth. He brings to Merck a belief that procurement must align with long-term goals, deliver value beyond savings and remain agile in a changing world.

To read the full article in the magazine, click HERE.

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