Chris Ross is Interim Sector Head of Life Science and Head of Integrated Supply Chain Operations for MilliporeSigma, the $7.6 billion Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Ross also serves as the United States Country Speaker for the US-based businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

As Interim Sector Head of Life Science, Ross is responsible for leading the strategic direction of the business and its more than 22,000 employees. The Life Science business of Merck collaborates with the global scientific community to solve the industry's toughest problems by providing scientists with lab materials, technologies and services to make research and biotech production simpler, faster and safer.

As Head of Integrated Supply Chain Operations, Ross is responsible for the global manufacturing site network, supply chain planning activities and distribution center network for Life Science business of Merck. The Integrated Supply Chain Operations organization of more than 11,000 employees drives Life Science’s manufacturing strategy, capital investments, operational excellence and supply chain management processes to improve cost, quality and delivery of products for Life Science’s customers.

Further to this, he is also the Greater Boston Hub Leader for the Life Science business of Merck, assuring the multi-disciplined capabilities in the region are industry-leading, connected with the local economy and community and optimized for growth.

The Life Science business was named to The Boston Globe’s annual “Top Places to Work” list in 2017 and 2019, as well as Boston Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” list in 2019. The company received an exclusive certification as a top employer in North America by the independent Top Employers Institute in 2018 for the second year in a row.

Ross began his career with the organization in May 2008 as the Head of Bioprocess Single-Use Operations in Danvers, Massachusetts and Anderson, California. He later worked as Managing Director of Cork, Ireland and Consett, UK Operations and then Senior Vice President of the Separations Technology Cluster, both roles based in Cork, Ireland. From 2012 to 2015, Ross was Senior Vice President and Head of Global Operations for Merck Millipore, where he managed all aspects of supply chain and manufacturing across three Technology Clusters.

Ross received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Washington in Seattle and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Ross currently serves as a board member of the New England Council.